The EU Court of Justice decides that an exclusive distribution agreement in which the distributor was to enjoy absolute territorial protection is restricting competition by object (Consten / Grundig)

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT 13 JULY 1966 [1] Établissements Consten SARL and Grundig-Verkaufs-GmbH v Commission of the European Economic Community [2] Joined Cases 56 and 58/64* 1. Where a measure adopted by an institution is directed to addressees designated by name, only the text which is notified to them is authentic. 2. During administrative proceedings before the Commission concerning the application of Article 85 of the EEC Treaty the parties concerned must be informed of the facts upon which the complaints of the Commission are based. It is not however necessary that the entire content of the file should be communicated to them. 3. Neither the wording of Article 85 nor that of Article 86 gives any ground for holding that distinct areas of application are to be assigned to each