This book deals with competition policy from the standpoint of a business executive. It enables a busy reader to go straight to the business practice with which he is concerned and from there to a summary of the authorities' treatment of that practice. At the same time, it provides the reader who wishes to add an appreciation of anti-trust compliance to his professional portfolio with a comprehensive overview of the subject, together with a guide to useful sources of further information.

Thanks to the strategy of "apertura" that has characterized economic policy throughout Latin America since the debt crisis, foreign investment is on the rise and a significant degree of economic stability has been achieved. In the global arena, however, the enormous promise of Latin American trade remains only partially realized, as policy makers in the region struggle to design a "fair" level playing field for encouraging sustained and equitable development, through implementing transparent regulatory business environments across the region. Competition policy has accordingly become a major regulatory issue in both individual Latin American countries and in regional co-operation arrangements. In considering the development of the "second generation" of regulatory policy initiatives implemented in the region, this book analyzes the role of competition policy in the promotion of successful and sustained economic development. Examples of the vital and diverse aspects of the region's competition policy agenda covered are: comparative assessments of the legal regime of different Latin American countries for dealing with business restrictive practices, including cartels, vertical restraints, market foreclosures and mergers; the increasing introduction of competition principles in the promotion of institutional reforms in the promotion of investments and technology, privatization processes, antidumping policy and trade remedies, and the regulation of public utilities; the institutional factors influencing the relationship between competition authorities and other regulatory agencies; the governance factors determining the agenda of competition policy enforcement; the impact of international competition principles on the policy agenda of Latin American competition authorities, in the context of the WTO, the FTAA and regional economic integration agreements. The author combines the legal description of the jurisdictions reviewed with the analytical tools of institutional economics, to give a fully rounded picture of this complex and evolving subject. As a result, "Latin American Competition Law and Policy" stands out as a fundamental resource for all world trade professionals at a time when Latin America's presence in the global economy is rapidly assuming greater dimensions.

In the 1970s, the Federal Trade Commission had embarked on an activist consumer protection and antitrust agenda which resulted in severe public and congressional backlash, including calls to abolish the agency. Beginning in 1981, under the direction of Chairman James Miller, the FTC started down a new path of economically-oriented policymaking. This new approach helped save the FTC and laid the groundwork for it to grow into the world-class consumer protection and antritrust agency that it is today. The Regulatory Revolution at the FTC examines this period of transition in light of continuing debate about the FTC's mission. Editor James Campbell Cooper has assembled contributions from leading economists and scholars, including many of the central figures in the Miller-era Commission and today's FTC, who provide a comprehensive and revealing story about the importance of economic analysis in regulatory decision-making. Together, they foster a crucial understanding of the evolution of the FTC from an agency on the brink of extinction to one widely respected for its performance and economic sophistication.

This text is the result of a conference held in London in September 1999, jointly organized by Hammond Suddards Solicitors and the Centre for the Law of the European Union of University College, London. This conference addressed the issues surrounding the European Commission's White Paper published in April 1999. In this respect, the conference presented distinguished speakers with an opportunity to air their views in public on this important development in the evolution of competition law in the European Union. The authors have tried to cover as much ground as possible, giving the view of authoritative contributors and competition authorities from most of the major European countries and from the European Commission. The contributors naturally focus on the Commission's White Paper and view their national situation in this light. There is detailed treatment of the situation in the UK and the entry into force of the UK Competition Act.

Professor Korah's short monographs on specific topics within EC competition law are well known and widely used. This work follows the pattern of her previous books on group exemptions for technology transfer and parallel imports. It examines the regulation on vertical agreements, starting with a chapter on the economic background, before developing, in a series of chapters, a careful analysis of vertical agreements and all of the relevant case law. A further chapter deals with agreements which do not come within the regulation, again paying careful attention to the case law.

This impressive volume presents a detailed comparative analysis of merger remedies in the EU and US, motivated by the fact that a growing number of mergers are being scrutinised and reviewed under both jurisdictions. Merger remedies on either side of the Atlantic play an increasingly important role in the implementation of public policy with regard to the economic concentration of industry. The book provides an understanding of merger remedies in general, and of procedural and substantive differences in the approach of the EU and the US. The editors have gathered together leading European and American practitioners and scholars to comprehensively discuss this issue. They aim to help policymakers decide if, and how, current practices can be improved, and to help firms and their counsel better prepare cases and predict outcomes. This volume sets forth an agenda for future research by providing a critical overview of merger remedies and their implementation in the EU and US. It will become the requisite study in the field for scholars of industrial organisation, law and economics, and for legal practitioners and policymakers working in the realm of competition law.

This book analyses essential concepts of competition law and industrial policy, and shows where the two areas clash with and complement each other, respectively. The discussion takes place in the context of developing countries, taking into consideration their realities and specific needs. South Africa serves as a real-world example for competition law that goes beyond the notion of consumer welfare. An in-depth analysis of the enforcement of South African law illustrates how the law is used both to combat the negative effects of past industrial policy, and to accommodate current economic and social needs.The book is intended for all readers with an interest in the enforcement of competition law in developing countries. It will particularly benefit those who want to learn about unorthodox approaches that integrate the concept of "public interest" and social imperatives into the application of competition law.

The notion of market power is central to antitrust law. Under EU law, antitrust rules refer to appreciable restrictions of competition (Article 101(1) Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), ex Article 81(1) EC Treaty), the elimination of competition for a substantial part of the market (Article 101 (3) TFEU, ex Article (81(3) EC), dominant positions (Article 10 (2) TFEU, ex Article 82 EC), and substantial impediment to effective competition, in particular by creating or reinforcing a dominant position (Article 2 of the EU Merger Regulation). At first sight, only the concept of dominant position relates to market power, but it is the aim of this book to demonstrate that the other concepts are directly linked to the notion of market power. This is done by reference to the case law of the EU Courts and the precedents of the European Commission. The author goes on to argue that for very good reasons (clarity and enforceability, among others) the rules should be interpreted in this way. Beginning with market definition, the book reviews the different rules and the different degrees of market power they incorporate. Thus it analyses the notion of 'appreciable restriction of competition' to find a moderate market power obtained by agreement among competitors to be the benchmark for the application of Article 101 TFEU, ex Article 81 EC. It moves on to the concept of dominance under Article 102 TFEU (ex Article 82 EC), which is equivalent to substantial (or sgnificant) market power, and then focuses on the old and new tests for EU merger control. Finally, it addresses the idea of elimination of competition in respect of a substantial part of the market (Article 101 (3) TFEU, ex Article 81 (3) (b) EC), in which the last two types of market power (Article 102 TFEU, ex Article 82 EC and EU Merger Regulation) converge. To exemplify this, an in-depth study of the notion of collective dominance is conducted. The book concludes that a paradigm of market power exists under the EU antitrust rules that both fits with past practice and provides for a useful framework of analysis for the general application of the rules by administrative and even more importantly judicial authorities in the Member States, under conditions of legal certainty.

Everyone recognizes that competition is the process by which companies are induced to offer consumers the lowest prices and introduce innovations to earn higher profits. Antitrust enforcement should focus on real competition problems, on behaviour that has actual or likely restrictive effects on the market, and which harms consumers; it should be aimed at protecting competition and not competitors. A real revolution in the application of European competition law took place with the modernization package implemented in the last few years, involving the now-decentralized application of Articles 81 and 82 EC, new merger regulations, and the ongoing review of guidelines for the prosecution of abuses of a dominant position.This book presents the proceedings of the First Lisbon Competition Law and Economics under the auspices of the Portuguese Competition Authority. It was a ground-breaking event in which leading European judges and competition enforcers, as well as some of the leading world economists and law professors on competition issues, took a critical look at the instruments of competition policy conceived to implement EC Regulation 1/2003, with a broader focus on modernization in the EU and in the USA. In wide-ranging discussions they evaluated theories of harm to competition for the most frequently-occurring types of abusive behaviour, and developed guidelines for a competition policy that offers both an economically sound framework and a workable and operational tool for making rules that can be enforced effectively and with a reasonable degree of predictability.Among the many issues arising in the proceedings recorded in this book are the following: special powers of investigation; leniency programs and individual sanctions; the problem of forum shopping in the present merger regulation system; the impact of regulations and competition on economic growth; competition and regulatory costs; judicial review of the European Commission merger decisions; consumer welfare effects of mergers; who should apply competition law to utilities; and the link between competition and innovation and the development of a country. The book will be of immeasurable value to judges, academics, and economic and law practitioners active in competition policy and enforcement, as well as to officials of European national competition authorities. Equally interested will be students of law and economics concerned with competition issues, and non-governmental organizations dealing with consumer protection and private enforcement of competition law. By giving ample evidence of the impact of competition and efficient regulation on economic growth, this far-reaching book will help elucidate the main current topics in need of further reform and underline the importance of competition policy in modern market economies.

The recent modification of the European Antitrust Law system, which concerns both the substance of the prohibitions and the system of enforcement, called for a thorough re-examination of this sector. Against this background, this book offers a new and coherent organisation of the subject. It takes into consideration the changes not only to the interpretation of Articles 81 and 82 EC, but also to the procedural aspects related to Reg. 1/03. In this context, the reform of Reg. 139/04 on European merger control is also fully taken into consideration. European Antitrust Law places current EC antitrust and merger control rules in their historical context, considering both the economic foundations and guiding principles of the law. It will therefore be an invaluable and stimulating guide to EC antitrust for scholars, students and practitioners alike.

The book examines the potential for regional competition law systems as enforcement tools in developing countries, based on a case study of the West African Economic and Monetary Union, the Andean Community and the Caribbean Community. It analyses the allocation of enforcement competences between the regional/supranational and the national level and formulates detailed guidelines on the optimal degree of centralization or decentralization. The book addresses all readers that are interested in the enforcement of competition law in developing countries. Moreover, it provides practical insights for public institutions that wish to identify or prevent possible misallocation of competences within regional competition law systems.

This is an in-depth treatment in English of Japanese law and practice governing unfair competition. The author analyzes the interaction of the relevant laws - and the case law derived from each - to present a systematic description of how business reputation, trade secrets, well-known marks, and other aspects of business achievement and investment are protected against undue exploitation in Japan. Prohibited acts of unfair competition covered include: misappropriation by confusion or passing-off; misappropriation through breach of trust or fiduciary duty; slavish imitation of distinct product features; trade mark piracy; tortious acts of denigration, libel, and slander; direct interference by, e.g., boycott or bribery; undue exercise of intellectual property rights; and misleading indications on goods and services (e.g., of geographical origin). Several problematic areas - in particular, the obstacles to effective enforcement, and the lack of adequate protection for consumers against acts of unfair competition - are given particular emphasis. The book concludes with cogent proposals on how the Japanese system could be improved and developed, referring to the model provisions of the World Intellectual Property Organization and offering a new and original draft of the Unfair Competition Act. Any business person or investor interested in the Japanese market should benefit enormously from this practical and insightful volume.

This book takes as its starting point the interaction and gaps between the free movement and competition rules of the EC Treaty,and is the first book-length treatment of the topic. Competition and free movement are well known as fundamental elements of the Community legal order and are normally treated separately by different specialists. Hence their interaction has tended to receive less doctrinal analysis. This work bridges the gap and examines the interaction of these disparate rules using a framework which is defined by the author as the economic constitutional law of the European Community. The book then examines in depth specific issues such as, for example, the economic orientation of the constitution of the Community, the structure and principles of interpretation relating to it, or the gaps presented by this structure and the ways in which they have been filled by the European Court of Justice. Particular attention is given, in separate chapters, to two important topics: the possible extension of the application of the free movement rules to protectionist private conduct and that of the competition rules or principles extracted from them to State action. The problem of the public/private divide, a pressing one for contemporary constitutionalism and societies, is a major concern for the chapters devoted to these topics, and it is seen by the author as the central question of the economic constitutional law of the Community. The book is equally concerned with theoretical and practical issues, and will be of use and interest to academics and practitioners interested in the European Community legal order. In addition to the wealth of information it contains and its challenging analysis of the law, the book also provides a way of thinking afresh about the problems presented by these established branches of Community law.

By 1968, 200 corporations held over 60 percent of the nation's manufacturing assets and total annual profits. This book is a comprehensive study of the enormous concentration of economic power resulting from the Third Great Merger Movement, during which over 9,400 firms disappeared through merger, increasing from 954 in 1961 to 2,442 in the peak year of 1968. This great merger wave took place during a period of prosperity marked by a rapidly expanding economy, easy money, and a bouyant stock market. The conglomerate firm was the most prominent feature of the Third Great Merger Movement.

The book investigates competition law and international technology transfer in the light of the TRIPS Agreement and the experience of both developed and developing countries. On that basis, it draws relevant implications for developing countries.Tu Thanh Nguyen argues that technology transfer-related competition law should be ?glocalized? appropriately for the needs of local contexts, while intellectual property rights (IPR) are globalized. The book reveals that developing countries, according to the TRIPS Agreement, have the right to use domestic competition law to promote access to technology in order to protect national interests and consumer welfare. However, competition law is antitrust. It is neither anti-IPR nor anti-trade. The author finds that developing countries with limited competition law resources should set realistic priorities for the control of technology transfer-related anti-competitive practices. They can reasonably apply and adapt relevant regulations, decisions and judgments from developed country jurisdictions to their own circumstances.Competition Law, Technology Transfer and the TRIPs Agreement is a timely resource for postgraduate students, practitioners, and scholars in international competition law, IPR, and technology transfer. Policymakers in the field of technology transfer-related competition law/policy, especially in developing countries, will also find this book invaluable.

This volume contains chapters by different authors describing the development of competition policy in 10 European Union Member States, as well as the interaction of those policies with EU competition policy. The convergence of Member State competition policy to the EU approach is put in evidence, as is the influence of Member State practice on EU competition policy. The chapters are rich in institutional detail, but also analyze the functioning of competition policy from an economic point of view.

This book presents a detailed study of the interface between regional integration and competition policies of selected regional trade agreements (RTAs), and the potential of regional competition laws to help developing countries achieve their development goals. The book provides insights on the regional integration experiences in developing countries, their potential for development and the role of competition law and policy in the process. Moreover, the book emphasizes the development dimension both of regional competition policies and of competition law. This timely book delivers concrete proposals that will help to unleash the potential of regional integration and regional competition policies, and also help developing countries to fully enjoy the benefits deriving from a regional market. Bringing together analysis from well-known scholars in the developed world with practical insight from scholars in countries hoping to exploit the potential of competition law, this book will appeal to academics working in the field of competition law, practitioners, policymakers and officials from developing countries, as well as those in development organizations such as UNCTAD. Contributors: A. Amunategui Abad, M. Bakhoum, D.S. Beckford, J. Cortazar, J. Drexl, E.M. Fox, M.S. Gal, D.J. Gerber, G.K. Lipimile, G. Mamhare, J. Molestina, K. Moodaliyar, M. Ngom, T. Stewart, L. Thanadsillapakul, I.F. Wassmer

This book is inspired by the international movement towards the criminalisation of cartel conduct over the last decade. Led by US enforcers, criminalisation has been supported by a growing number of regulators and governments. It derives its support from the simple yet forceful proposition that criminal sanctions, particularly jail time, are the most effective deterrent to such activity. However, criminalisation is much more complex than that basic proposition suggests. There is complexity both in terms of the various forces that are driving and shaping the movement (economic, political and social) and in the effects on the various actors involved in it (government, enforcement agencies, the business community, judiciary, legal profession and general public). Featuring contributions from authors who have been at the forefront of the debate around the world, this substantial 19-chapter volume captures the richness of the criminalisation phenomenon and considers its implications for building an effective criminal cartel regime, particularly outside of the US. It adopts a range of approaches, including general theoretical perspectives (from criminal theory, economics, political science, regulation and criminology) and case-studies of the experience with the design and enforcement of existing or contemplated criminal cartel regimes in various jurisdictions (including in Australia, Canada, EU, Germany, Ireland and the UK). The book also explores the international dimensions of criminalisation - its specific practical consequences (such as increased potential for extradition) as well as its more general implications for trends of harmonisation or convergence in competition law and enforcement.

Even though the development of competition law in the countries of the former Eastern bloc has been based to a significant extent on arrangements existing in the European Union - including the case law of European courts and various instruments developed by the European Commission - numerous substantial differences remain both in regulatory regimes and in ongoing practice among the various countries. This first-ever practical survey of competition law in this region describes applicable regimes in sixteen of these countries, with additional country chapters on Austria and Turkey and a chapter on the role of the Eurasian Economic Commission.

Japanese antitrust law stems from the virtually verbatim adoption of United States antitrust law during the occupation years following World War II. However, distinctive Japanese elements have emerged with major amendments to the original Japanese Antimonopoly Act (JAA) in 1953, 1977, and 2005, with the result that Japanese antitrust law stands today as a uniquely important body of legislation and case law playing a significant role in international trade.This in-depth commentary by an internationally known practitioner and authority in the field fully details both the substance and procedure of the JAA, with close analyses of all the important cases that have been decided over the years. Among the crucial factors covered are the following: details of the 1953, 1977, and 2005 amendments with their rationales; the special JAA conception of "unfair trade practice"; judicial interpretations of key terms in the law; interpretation of rules governing resale pricing and sales method restriction; merger regulations and guidelines; role of the Japanese Fair Trade Commission (JFTC); administrative procedure; judicial review; awards; and extraterritorial application of the JAA.Especially valuable is a detailed sample compliance manual anticipating applicable contingencies likely to be encountered by any firm doing business in Japan. An appendix provides English texts of the JAA as amended, as well as important regulatory documents.Akira Inoue's "Japanese Antitrust Law Manual" will prove indispensable to business persons and their counsel, and of great value to students and teachers of antitrust and competition law. It is a source to be consulted again and again, both for precise answers to specific questions and for keen insight into the workings of this complex body of law.

Do the antitrust laws have a place in the digital economy or are they obsolete? That is the question raised by the government's legal action against Microsoft, and it is the question this volume is designed to answer. America's antitrust laws were born out of the Industrial Revolution. Opponents of the antitrust laws argue that whatever merit the antitrust laws may have had in the past they have no place in a digital economy. Rapid innovation makes the accumulation of market power practically impossible. Markets change too quickly for antitrust actions to keep up. And antitrust remedies are inevitably regulatory and hence threaten to `regulate business'. A different view - and, generally, the view presented in this volume - is that antitrust law can and does have an important and constructive role to play in the digital economy. The software business is new, it is complex, and it is rapidly moving. Analysis of market definition, contestibility and potential competition, the role of innovation, network externalities, cost structures and marketing channels present challenges for academics, policymakers and judges alike. Evaluating consumer harm is problematic. Distinguishing between illegal conduct and brutal - but legitimate - competition is often difficult. Is antitrust analysis up to the challenge? This volume suggests that antitrust analysis `still works'. In stark contrast to the political rhetoric that has surrounded much of the debate over the Microsoft case, the articles presented here suggest neither that Microsoft is inherently bad, nor that it deserves a de facto exemption from the antitrust laws. Instead, they offer insights - for policymakers, courts, practitioners, professors and students of antitrust policy everywhere - on how antitrust analysis can be applied to the business of making and marketing computer software.