competition | In Principle

For the first time, the US Department of Justice has succeeded in extraditing an EU citizen on antitrust charges.

It is apparent from recent events that competition authorities, both in Poland and at the EU level, are seeking to eliminate violations through “amicable” methods of dispute resolution.

With planned changes to EU regulations governing the audit market, contractual clauses limiting the selection of audit firms will have to be removed from credit agreements.

On 15 May 2012, the Polish competition authority published a white paper proposing amendments to the Act on Competition and Consumer Protection of 16 February 2007.

The practice of food labelling inspectors prevents consumers from making informed choices—effectively working against the policy of promoting healthy eating.

Manufacturers like to exert an influence over the manner in which their products are sold by distributors. But excessive interference in online sales by a distributor may be found to be an illegal anti-competitive arrangement.

Comment and consultation on the proposal are drawing to a close.

Sometimes, out of a misplaced sense of loyalty or fear of the consequences, staff members refuse to allow competition inspectors to enter company premises, or refuse access to requested documents and data. But this can lead to even greater problems.

The Court of Competition and Consumer Protection has broken the power companies’ monopoly on information about the condition of the power grid in proceedings seeking a connection to the grid.

Lawyers from Wardyński & Partners co-authored the “Poland Chapter” on Leniency Regimes – jurisdictional comparisons published by Thomson Reuters. Below we publish an excerpt from the publication.

Anytime competitors share confidential information it may attract the attention of competition authorities. This holds true when information is exchanged in connection with M&A activity.

In contracts with consumers, intentional or unintentional use of terms that have been held (or could be held) to be abusive may cause major problems for businesses, including financial consequences.