Providing a detailed and practical analysis of the entire scope of the law relating to vertical agreements, including the new general block exemption regulations and the Vertical Guidelines, this book is an indispensible tool for all practitioners active in the drafting or reviewing of vertical agreements.

Vertical agreements between undertakings at the various levels of a supply chain have long been seen as a fundamental focus for antitrust legislation, such as the European Union’s Vertical Block Exemption Regulation (VBER). It goes without saying that such issues are particularly prevalent in digital markets. This authoritative commentary analyses the main restrictions in vertical agreements, emphasising the numerous new and contentious issues arising in the context of Internet distribution. It offers both legal and economic perspectives, as well as examines enforcement and possible changes to the legislation. The contributors – leading competition authority officials, lawyers, economists, and academics – provide in-depth discussions of topics that have emerged as areas for conscious policy choices, including the following: restrictions of online sales; price parity obligations; resale price maintenance; the duration of non-compete obligations; sustainability agreements; geo-blocking practices; and restraint of trade in pharmaceuticals. The contributions have emerged from the 2020 conference of the Global Competition Law Centre at the College of Europe in the context of the currently ongoing review of the VBER and vertical guidelines. With its multidisciplinary approach highlighting the efficiencies and harms caused by the restrictions at stake, this important book clearly shows how law and practice apply to specific issues relating to digital markets and how the law is likely to change in the near future. It will be of immeasurable value to lawyers and officials concerned with European competition law and academics in the field.

The purpose of this paper is to provide a full account of the new European rules on distribution agreements adopted in April 2010, i.e. Regulation 330/2010 and its concomitant Guidelines on Vertical Restraints. In doing so the paper covers all aspects of the law in this field - with the notable exception of agency agreements - and discusses the development of the law since the 1960s to the present day. Such development is principally characterised by an increased focus on the economic effects produced by vertical restraints and a movement away from a strict form-based approach. The paper is divided into five sections. Following a short introduction, section II sets out the different types of vertical restraint commonly found in commercial contracts of a vertical nature and the theories of harm (such as risks of foreclosure and collusion) and pro-competitive effects ascribed to them under EU competition law. Section II discusses not only those types of vertical restraint that one may traditionally come across - such as resale price maintenance clauses - but also discusses two novel areas, namely upfront access payments and category management agreements which relate to the issue of buyer power. Section III offers a step-by-step overview of the method that in our eyes ought ideally be followed by agencies, firms and their legal counsels when engaging in a self asssessment - in the post notification era - of vertical agreements under Article 101 TFEU. Section IV deals with the issue of online distribution, which sparked intense controversy during the stakeholder consultation process. In line with commercial reality and the ubiquity of online commerce it is in our opinion entirely appropariate that the new law on vertical restraints now provides extensive guidance on the issue. Finally a brief conclusion is provided in section V.

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.