The revised EC policy on the application of competition law to vertical agreements is one of the most important developments in EC anti-trust for many years. The block exemption regulation, which came into effect on 1 June 2000, and the accompanying policy changes are crucially important for companies doing business in the European Union. Whichever route a business chooses to get its products to market, it needs to understand the impact of the EC rules.
This guide provides a comprehensive and practical commentary on the new rules. The work contains the full text of the block exemption regulation, accompanying guidelines and other relevant Commission notices. Issues covered include:
background to EC competition law and its application to vertical agreements; in-depth analysis of the provisions of the block exemption regulation;examination of how the rules apply to exclusive distribution; and selective distribution, franchising and agency agreements.
The authoritative and in-depth analysis of the guide will be invaluable to in-house counsel, business people and practitioners involved in or advising on the distribution of goods or services in the EU.