Competition journals: Jan. - March 2011

1. General - Scope of application

Portrait of the Authority as a young girl: the Competition Authority resulting from the LME Act, between success and a new start, T. DAHAN and C. LEMAIRE (RJEP, n° 683, Feb. 2011, p. 3)

Who’s afraid of the control room? C. NOURISSAT (RLDA, Feb. 2011, 57, Tribune, p. 55)

See also on the same topic, Misère de la justice économique française (le cas du contentieux de la concurrence), D. BOSCO (Contrats, conc., consom., avr. 2011, Repère 4)

For a "modernised" reading of the allocation of trade between Member States , L. IDOT, (Europe, Apr. 2011, focus, alert 26)

Social protection institutions and competition law: confirmations or inflections? L. DRIGUEZ (Revue de droit sanitaire et social 2010, p. 1048).

Boycott practices or denial of access to an essential facility? De Terminal Railroad à l’IRM d’Arcachon , F. MARTY et J. PILLOT, (RLC 2011/26, n° 1724, p. 17)

Activity of the Community courts in competition law (September 2010), P. ARHEL (Petites affiches, 17 Jan. 2011, No 11, p. 7 and Petites affiches, 18 Jan. 2011, No 12, p. 5)

Activity of the Community Courts in competition law (October 2010), P. ARHEL (Petites affiches, 4 March 2011, No 45, p. 5)

Chronique Concurrence, L. IDOT, (Europe, Jan. 2011, comm. 19-21, p. 26; Feb. 2011, comm. 68-78 and 88-90; Mar. 2011, comm. 112-115; Apr. 2011, comm. 132-135 and comm. 138-141)

Chronique Droit de la Concurrence, L. IDOT et C. PRIETO (RDC 2010/4, p. 1269)

Chronique Concurrence, M. BAZEX G. DECOCQ, M. MALAURIE-VIGNAL and D. BOSCO, (Contracts, conc., consom., Feb. 2011, comm. 35 to 42, p. 19; March 2011 comm. 70 to 77)

Chronique de droit économique, C. ANADON, (RLDA, Jan. 2011, 56, n° 3231, p. 51; Feb. 2011, 57, n° 3283 to 3286, p. 41; Mar. 2011, 58, n° 3334 to 3338, p. 35)

Chronique Concurrence, (RJDA, Feb. 2011, p. 174; Mar. 2011, p. 250; Apr. 2011, p. 332)

Chronique droit de la concurrence, J. PHILIPPE and M. TRABUCCHI, (Gaz. Pal., 12 Feb. 2011, n° 43, p. 18)

Chronique Concurrence-Distribution, D. FERRIER, (D., 24 Feb. 2011, n° 8, p. 540)

Chronicle European banking and financial law, P.-E. PARTSCH, (EDJ, No 175, Jan. 2011, p. 15)

Chronique Droit de la concurrence, G. DECOCQ and, A. LAQUIEZE, (JCP éd. E, n° 15, Apr. 14, 2011, 1301, p. 20)

2. Agreements

2.1. General

New European competition rules applicable to "horizontal cooperation agreements", D. REDON and M. COMERT, (BRDA 2/11, 31 Jan. 2011, Commentary 23, p. 12)

See also, Exchanges of Information under the Guidelines on Horizontal Restrictions, C. VILMART and C. VILMART. VILMART, (JCP ed. E, No. 4, 27 Jan. 2011, 1052, p. 26); The Guidelines on Horizontal Restrictions: Hell paved with good intentions, C. VILMART and C. VILMART, (JCP ed. E, No. 4, 27 Jan. 2011, 1052, p. 26); The Guidelines on Horizontal Restrictions: Hell paved with good intentions, C. VILMART and C. VILMART. VILMART, (JCP ed. E, No. 7, 17 Feb. 2011, 1134, p. 26); Study of the new horizontal restrictions package, P. WILHELM and V. VILMART, (JCP ed. E, No. 7, 17 Feb. 2011, 1134, p. 26); Study of the new horizontal restrictions package, P. WILHELM and V. VILHELM. LORIEUL (Contracts, conc., consom., March 2011, Study 4).

New rules on vertical restraints, A. GURIN, (JCP ed. E, No. 3, 20 Jan. 2011, 1027, p. 26)

See also, in the same issue of La semaine juridique, édition entreprise et affaires (p. 25-44), all the proceedings of the round table held on 5 November 2010 on the theme "Selective distribution: a fragrance of novelty?", with a foreword by Emmanuelle Gourbin and contributions by C. VILMART (The new risks for the selective distribution of cosmetic products) and D. FERRIER (Selective distribution in the framework of the new regulation no. 330-2010); The new competition rules applicable to distribution contracts, G. DECOCQ, (Rev. jurispr. com, Sept.-oct. 2010, nº 5, p. 434).

Storm warning on affiliation contracts in the food distribution sector (note ss. Aut. conc. Notice No. 10-A-26 of 7 Dec. 2010 on affiliation agreements of independent shops and the modalities of acquisition of commercial land in the food distribution sector), N. DISSAUX, (JCP éd. G, n° 7, Feb. 14, 2011, 177, p. 315)

See also in relation to the same opinion, La grande distribution alimentaire sous surveillance, J. PHILIPPE and M. TRABUCCHI (Gaz. Pal., 12 Feb. 2011, No. 43, p. 3); L’avis de l’ADLC du 7 décembre 2010 : du mouvement en perspective, J.-F. TESSLER, (Contrats, conc., consom., Feb. 2011, Alerte 13).

2.2. Distribution

Les vigoureux usages des réseaux de distribution (note ss. Grenoble 16 Sept. 2010, nº 10/00062) , P. MOUSSERON, (JCP éd. G, n° 10, 7 March 2011, 273, p. 474)

Reflections on Opinion No. 10-A-26 of 7 December 2010 issued by the Adlc on food distribution, M. MALAURIE-VIGNAL (JCP éd. E, No. 11, 17 March 2011, Study, 1217, p. 22; Contracts, conc., consom., Feb. 2011, Study 3)

What future for the affiliate commission contract? M.-J. LOYER-LEMERCIER, (JCP éd. E, n° 11, March 17, 2011, Study, 1218, p. 29)

Chronique Distribution , M. MALAURIE-VIGNAL and N. MATHEY, (Contracts, conc., consumer, Feb. 2011, comm. 30 to 34; Mar. 2011, comm. 62 to 66; Apr. 2011, comm. 0 to 0)

3. Abuse of dominance

Google and competition law: storm warning! D. BOSCO (Contracts, Concessions, Consumers, Apr. 2011, Study 7, p. 9).

The abuse of a dominant position by a pharmaceutical company in relation to competing generics (note ss. Dec. Aut. concur. no. 10-D-16, 17 May 2010, relating to practices implemented by the company Sanofi-Aventis France), G. ROUSSET (Gaz. Pal., 15 Jan. 2011, no. 15, p. 49)

4. Restrictive practices

The significant imbalance and the Constitutional Council (note ss. Constitutional Council, 13 Jan. 2011) , Y. PICOD (D., 10 Feb. 2011, No. 6, p. 415)

See also, with regard to the same decision, Déséquilibre significatif : une validation par le Conseil constitutionnel qui marie droit de la concurrence et droit de la consommation en matière de clauses abusives (Significant imbalance: a validation by the Constitutional Council that combines competition law and consumer law on unfair terms), J.-L. FOURGOUX (Contrats, conc., consom., March 2011, Study 5); Le Conseil constitutionnel et l’article L. 442-6 du code de commerce, D. MAINGUY (JCP éd. E, No. 7, 17 Feb. 2011, 1136, p. 42; JCP éd. G, No. 10, 7 Mar. 2011, 274, p. 477).

Reflection on the legal nature of the legal action of the Minister of the Economy in the field of practices restricting competition, C. ROUGEAU-MAUGER (RTD com., Oct.-Dec. 2010, No 4, p. 653)

Article L. 442-6, I, 2° of the Commercial Code between market law and common law of obligations, M. CHAGNY (D., 10 Feb. 2011, n° 6, p. 392)

The breakdown of commercial relations established in practice, K. HAERI (JCP ed. E, No 3, 20 Jan. 2011, Echoes of Practice 24, p. 5)

The "significant imbalance" in trade relations, A. BERG-MOUSSA (JCP ed. E, No 4, 27 Jan. 2011, Echoes of Practice 24, p. 5)

Concurrence déloyale et pratiques restrictives, G. DECOCQ et A., BALLOT-LENA, (JCP éd. E, n° 7, 17 Feb. 2011, 1135, p. 32)

5. Concentrations

Concentrations and network effects in the Internet sector, A. LOFARO and J. P. VAN DER VEER (RLC 2011/26, No. 1717, p. 8)

Acquisition of control in distribution networks: between power and influence, T. OSTER (RLDA March 2011, 58, n° 3333, p. 31)

Concentration of undertakings and consultation of employee representatives, P. BAILLY (RLDA Jan. 2011, 56, n° 3230, p. 49)

The rules applicable to concentration operations in the audiovisual sector - About CA, Dec. 30, 2010, Sté Métropole Télévision, M. BAZEX (D. Adm., March. 2011, No. 3, p. 31)

Merger control as a means of developing competition in public tenders - About Aut. Conc, Dec. No. 10-DCC-198, Dec. 30, 2010, Véolia/Transdev, M. BAZEX (D. Adm., Apr. 2011, No. 4, p. 26)

This comment by Michel Bazex is of twofold interest: on the one hand, it contains a good summary of the competitive analysis carried out by the Authority on each of the main markets affected by the operation (urban transport outside the Ile-de-France region, interurban transport outside the Ile-de-France region and urban and interurban transport within the Ile-de-France region), which led the parties to propose remedies likely to intensify competition in the public tendering procedures under which transport networks are awarded.

On the other hand, and this is the second element of interest of the commentary, the author explains how the commented decision intervenes in the context of the fight, by the Competition Authority, against anti-competitive practices in public tenders and thus highlights the problem of the articulation of the rules of competition law with the rules of public law during the interventions of the Competition Authority.

6. State aid

Existing or new State aid: how one can create or switch from one to the other without (almost) wanting to, N. COUTRELIS and S. CAUSSANEL, (RLDA Feb. 2011, 57, n° 3281, p. 32)

Conditional extension of aid granted to banks in the context of the financial crisis - Background information , É. BERKANI and P. GUIBERT (RLC 2011/26, No 1736, p. 42)

Declaration of intention to support is not state aid! (note ss. Trib. EU, 21 May 2010, cases T-425/04, T-444/04, T-450/04 and T-456/04, France and a. c/ Commission), M. CHAGNY (Comm. com. electr., Jan. 2011, comm. 4)

The French State must reimburse to taxpayers the proceeds of an unallocated tax contrary to European State aid law - About CA Versailles, 2 September 2010 (three species), J. PHILIPPE, A. GUYON and K. EL SAMMAA (Gaz. Pal., 12 Feb. 2011, No 43, p. 13)

Conditions for withdrawal of a subsidy to a chamber of commerce and industry - About EC, 5 Jul 2010, No 308615, E. CORTOT-BOUCHER (RJEP, No. 683, Feb. 2011, p. 38)

7. Public sector and competition

Current developments in competition law and regulation, S. NICINSKI, M. LOMBARD and E. GLASER, (AJDA, 4 Apr. 2011, No. 12, p. 649)

The authors of this column, who are assisted by Martine Lombard replacing Pierre-Alain Jeanneney, observe that during 2010 the administrative courts have made a classic application of the principle of free competition, both from the point of view of its place in the hierarchy of norms and from the point of view of assessing the impact of administrative decisions on the free play of competition.

Public Service Concession and European Union Law, J.-B. AUBY, (D. Adm., Feb. 2011, No. 2, p. 1)

Fair public procurement, competition for the market and competition in the market, G. CANTILLON, (Contracts and Public Procurement, Feb. 2011, n° 2, p. 6)

De l’effectivité du droit de la concurrence dans le droit de la commande publique , D. GUINARD (Contrats et Marchés Publics, Feb. 2011, n° 2, p. 13)

8. Procedures

8.1. General

The European Competition Network and the impact of the principle of procedural autonomy, L. IDOT (Europe, Jan. 2011, Focus 1, p. 2)

Searches and seizures in competition matters: validity of retroactive transitional measures, A. MARIE (BRDA, 3/11, 15 Feb. 2011, Comments 20, p. 10)

Questioning by the Paris Court of Appeal of the method of global seizure of electronic mail used by the Competition Authority in the context of visits and seizures, J.-C. GRALL and P. TOURET (RLDA Feb. 2011, 57, No. 3282, p. 37)

Du principe de loyauté de la preuve et de son application aux matières civile et pénale (note ss. Cass. com., Ass. plén. 7 Jan. 2011), F. FOURMENT (D., 24 Feb. 2011, No. 8, p. 562)

See also, in connection with the same decision of the Plenary Assembly of the Court of Cassation refusing to admit, in the name of the principle of fairness of evidence, the recording of a telephone communication made without the knowledge of the author of the remarks made as constituting an unfair process making its production as evidence inadmissible, Loyalty of evidence in competition proceedings: "the civil party holds the criminal in check!". M. CHAGNY (Comm. com. électr., March 2011, comm. 24); Anticompetitive Practices and Evidence by Surreptitious Sound Recordings: The End of a Soap Opera, B. RUY, (JCP éd. G, No. 8, Feb. 21, 2011, 208, p. 373); Telephone tapping and proceedings before the Autorité de la concurrence, M. MALAURIE-VIGNAL, (JCP éd. G, No. 3, Jan. 17, 2011, 43, p. 90); Autorité de la concurrence: loyauté de la preuve, É. CHEVRIER, (D. 20 Jan. 2011, No. 3, p. 157); La prééminence du principe de loyauté dans l’administration de la preuve devant l’Autorité de la concurrence, S. REGNAULT (Gaz. Pal, 17 Feb. 2011, No. 48, p.16).

8.2. Sanction policy - Clemency - Settlement - Undertakings - Damages actions

Draft communiqué of the Competition Authority on the method for determining financial penalties, P. ARHEL (JCP éd. E, n° 4, 27 Jan. 2011, Actualités 40, p. 9)

Des effets pervers d’une demande de lémence sur le déroulement d’une procédure anticoncurrentielle, M. MALAURIE-VIGNAL (JCP éd. E, n° 15, 14 avr. 2011, 1302, p. 27)

Commission’s sharp decline in class actions, V. GRAC-AUBERT (D., 17 March 2011, n° 11, p. 808)

L’Autorité de la concurrence se prête au jeu de la transparence, (Option finances, n° 1118, 28 March 2011-Option Droit & Affaires, n° 69, 23 March 2011)

9. Regulations

Competition policy in network industries, (Network Industries Newsletter, vol. 13, n° 1/2011)

In its 13th issue, The Network Industries Quarterly, the quarterly online journal of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Lausanne, examines the application of competition rules in network industries, based on the premise that while most network industries are largely governed by sector-specific regulation, the ongoing process of liberalisation and the creation of competitive markets in these sectors is paving the way for increased implementation of competition policy in network industries. This issue opens with cross-sectoral contributions such as that by ORION BERG and JEAN-PAUL TRAN THIET entitled "Competition related tools for a new entrant in network regulated industries". It continues with a series of contributions dealing with this problem from a sectoral perspective (rail, telecommunications, air transport, energy).

The law on the new organisation of the electricity market: the transitional period which will last, A. LE GALL, (JCP éd. E, n° 5, Feb. 3, 2011, 1076, p. 31)

Law of 7 December 2010 on the new organisation of the electricity market, S. NICINSKI (RJEP, No. 684, March 2011, p. 3)

Towards "conflicts of laws" between general competition regulation and sector-specific regulation? - About the CJEU Judgment, 14 Oct. 2010, case C-280/08, Deutsche Telecom AG, M. BAZEX (D. Adm., Feb. 2011, No. 2, p. 49)

In this article, Michel Bazex addresses the question of the confrontation between the rules of ordinary competition law and the sectoral rules that may apply to the same practice, as in the commented judgment in the Deutsche Telecom case. The case concerned a margin squeeze implemented by an integrated undertaking which charged prices on the wholesale market which prevented its competitors from competing on the retail markets. Since those prices were authorised or controlled by the sectoral regulator, the question arose as to what room for manoeuvre Deutsche Telecom had in order to avoid implementing a margin squeeze. On this point, the ECJ held that Deutsche Telecom could change its pricing policy and thus avoid such an anti-competitive practice, thereby giving ordinary competition law precedence over sector-specific law. This decision is criticized by the author who believes that sectorial law should exclude the application of ordinary law on the grounds of "exorbitant public law", but also in accordance with the recent decision of the Court of Cassation in the field of health expenditure. This issue is thus perhaps not yet definitively resolved.

Le service public, au cœur du secteur de l’énergie, P. LOMBART (RJEP, n° 684, March 2011, p. 1)

Les communications électroniques : un laboratoire du droit de la concurrence, T. GALANIS (RDUE, 4-2010, p. 59)

A fascinating article on the interaction between competition law and regulatory law, on how competition law has evolved through litigation and merger control relating to electronic communications, through an analysis of US and EU case law.

10. International policy

Chronique politiques de concurrence, N. JALABERT-DOURY, F. AMIEL, J.-C. BERMOND, J. FOURQUET, P. LE MORE & A. TERCINET (RDAI/IBLJ, 1/2011, p. 85 - RDAI/IBLJ, 2/2011, p. 177)

This column is devoted to the analysis of international competition law news. As usual, it covers the latest developments in Community competition law, but also in national laws, not forgetting international developments in the field. Of particular note in issue 1/2011 is Nathalie Jalabert-Doury’s editorial on compliance programmes. Even if the impact of the adoption by companies of a compliance programme in terms of reduction of fines remains uncertain, not only in the light of the different approaches of competition authorities within Europe, but also in the light of the reluctance of many of them to take into account the previous existence of such programmes when they did not prevent the commission of the infringement, The author indicates that the debate is no longer whether or not to launch a compliance program, but rather how to design and regularly review it in order to convince the competition authority of the sincerity of the approach taken by the company.

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