Exhaust gas scandal compensation - manufacturer liability and immorality
Author: Dr. Christian Andrelang, LL.M. Attorney-at-law Specialist in international business law Specialist in commercial and corporate law Since the emissions scandal became public in September 2015, the higher courts have also been asking themselves the question of the extent to which the manufacturers of vehicles with manipulated emissions are liable to the buyers, even though the injured buyers did not buy the vehicles directly from the manufacturer. The emissions scandal […]
NIKE's sales ban – EUR 12.5 million fine for restricting cross-border sales
Yet another sales ban fine – The EU Commission today has imposed a fine of €12.5 million on Nike for restricting cross-border sales by banning its retailers from selling licensed football merchandise to other countries within the EEA. Please see the respective press release of the EU Commission here. Author: Dr. Christian Andrelang, LL.M. Attorney at Law […]
Geoblocking - The Guess decision of the EU Commission
The European Commission is serious about geoblocking – and national antitrust authorities such as the Federal Cartel Office are likely to follow suit. The geoblocking regulation had barely come into force on December 3, 2018, when the European Commission imposed a fine of almost EUR 40 million on the clothing label Guess in its decision of December 17, 2018 […]
Purchasing community: Prohibited price maintenance
Price fixing by retailers in a purchasing group is prohibited. The Federal Cartel Office made this clear again in a press release published on January 29, 2019 on a fine decision. There are exceptions to this rule, but only within narrow limits. Read here what is possible under antitrust law. Author: Dr. Christian Andrelang, LL.M. Attorney-at-law Specialist in international commercial law Specialist in […]
Management liability: Breach of duty towards the GmbH
Managing director liability is a sensitive issue: The law stipulates that managing directors must exercise the care of a prudent businessman in the affairs of the company. A managing director who violates his duties is liable to the company for the damage caused. D&O insurance can protect him and the company. Author: Dr. Christian Andrelang, LL.M. Attorney-at-law Specialist in international commercial law […]
Authorized dealer compensation claim - without customer data?
Does an authorized dealer have a claim for compensation without the authorized dealer having to be contractually obliged to transfer his customer base? The Nuremberg Regional Court surprised everyone with a published advisory decision dated November 27, 2018, indicating that the only thing that matters is whether the entrepreneur has benefited from the business relationship with the authorized dealer. According to the case law of the Federal Court of Justice [...]
SME cartel – antitrust requirements
A medium-sized company cartel can bring significant competitive advantages to small and medium-sized companies in order to be able to compete with the large companies in a sector. This applies in particular to specialization cartels and rationalization cartels, which the GWB allows under certain conditions. Under the umbrella of a medium-sized company cartel, for example, price agreements and quota formation that are otherwise prohibited can be permitted. However, […]
Limited partner and non-competition clause in the GmbH & Co. KG
Unter welchen Voraussetzungen unterliegt ein Kommanditist einem Wettbewerbsverbot? Diese Frage spielt in der Praxis eine wichtige Rolle. Komplementäre einer GmbH & Co. KG haften persönlich und sind zur Geschäftsführung berufen. Sie unterliegen einem gesetzlichen Wettbewerbsverbot, §§ 112, 113 HGB. Hintergrund ist der Interessenkonflikt, einerseits die Interessen der Gesellschaft wahren zu müssen und andererseits die Möglichkeit […]
Antitrust Claims for Refusal to Ship
Eine Lieferverweigerung ist bei einer Spitzenstellung des Herstellers und der Abhängigkeit des Händlers kartellrechtlich unzulässig – wichtig für die Spitzenstellung ist die Distributionsrate, auch bei einer Umstellung auf den selektiven Vertrieb. Als Fachanwalt für Internationales Wirtschaftsrecht informiere ich Sie hier über die kartellrechtlichen Voraussetzungen eines Belieferungsanspruchs bei einer Lieferverweigerung. Autor: Dr. Christian Andrelang, LL.M. Rechtsanwalt […]
Antitrust Claims for Damages – Statute of Limitations
The private enforcement of antitrust law through antitrust damages claims by cartel victims is becoming increasingly important in practice. Over a hundred antitrust damages claims totalling hundreds of millions of euros are pending in Germany alone, in particular from the cement, rail, sugar and truck cartels. Antitrust damages claims and open legal questions relating to them are now also reaching the Federal Court of Justice. In its decision of June 12th […]