Parallel Sales and Selective Distribution: Regulatory Reliefs and Brand Protection
Un fornitore organizza una rete di distribuzione selettiva per proteggere l’immagine del proprio marchio, ma i prodotti compaiono comunque presso rivenditori estranei alla rete: con questi venditori paralleli non esiste alcun contratto, e il titolare deve chiedersi con quali strumenti possa reagire.
L’articolo ricostruisce i requisiti della distribuzione selettiva (criteri Metro, art. 4, lett.…
Selective online distribution: the Amazon.it case.
1. Selective distribution: the regulatory and jurisprudential context.
Starting from the assumption that the aim of every manufacturer is to maximise its profit, there are cases in which this objective can only be achieved by limiting access to the official sales network to distributors and resellers who meet particular requirements, so as to protect the image of the manufacturer...
Selective and exclusive distribution: does the mixed system work?
What happens if a manufacturer applies a mixed system (selective and exclusive distribution) within Europe? What are the main advantages and disadvantages?
As already noted, the European legislator has always been
committed to balancing the principle of free trade of goods
goods and the interest of producers in creating competitive distribution networks.
competitive....
Selective distribution. A brief overview: risks and benefits.
Certain products, depending on their intrinsic characteristics (e.g. the luxury sector, i.e. technically very complex products), often require a more select and careful resale system than consumer products.
In such cases, the manufacturer is inclined, not so much to focus on the vastness and capillarity of its sales network, but rather to...
Restrizioni delle vendite passive e compensazione dei costi di garanzia nei contratti di distribuzione: dove passa il confine antitrust.
Sintesi
L'art. 4 del Regolamento (UE) 2022/720 vieta le restrizioni delle vendite passive come restrizioni fondamentali: la loro presenza nell'accordo esclude l'intero contratto dall'esenzione per categoria. Il problema applicativo non riguarda le clausole esplicite — nessun contratto redatto con consapevolezza antitrust le contiene più. Riguarda i meccanismi economici e…
Management of online sales in distribution contracts and European antitrust.
Il nuovo regolamento sulle vendite verticali ha introdotto per la prima volta una disciplina delle vendite online, introducendo all’art. 4 lett. e) un generico divieto di impedire “l’uso efficace di internet” da parte dell’acquirente o dei suoi clienti per vendere i beni o servizi oggetto del contratto.
Il precedente regolamento (330/2010) non disciplinava direttamente eventuali restrizioni…
Information exchange and dual distribution: antitrust implications in distribution contracts
In the context of distribution relationships, antitrust issues arise whenever the grantor engages in activities that, even potentially, compete with the dealer. This situation, referred to in Regulation (EU) 2022/720 as 'dual distribution', raises particularly sensitive legal issues regarding the legality of information exchanged...
Competition and online trade: navigating dual distribution and hybrid intermediaries in antitrust law
Dual distribution' and 'hybrid intermediaries' emerge as salient concepts in the context of vertical agreements and antitrust law.
Dual distribution occurs when an entity chooses to market its products both directly and through external distributors, thereby creating a situation of even potential competition with the latter. Such...
Antitrust law and the agency contract
Il contributo analizza l’applicabilità della disciplina antitrust europea ai contratti di agenzia commerciale, partendo dalla premessa che, nella maggior parte dei casi, tali accordi non rientrano nell’ambito dell’art. 101, § 1 TFUE, in quanto l’agente opera come ausiliario del preponente e non assume rischi economici rilevanti. Tuttavia, l’evoluzione del mercato – segnatamente con l’emergere di…
Parallel sales and the principle of brand exhaustion.
Can unauthorised distributors make parallel sales? When can one make use of the principle of brand exhaustion? The Amazon, Sisley and L'Oréal cases.
As
has already been explained (see The
selective distribution. A brief overview: risks and advantages), selective
selective distribution has the function of protecting the marketing of
products that, in...