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Workshops
Every year LIDC organises an international congress and takes resolutions on issues related to unfair competition and competition law. Here you can find the previous resolutions taken, aswell as the most recent one's
National Groups
National groups can become affiliated members of the LIDC, whether or not they have legal status, provided their aims and objects are in line with those of the Association.
List of national groups and their contact details Other Resolutions
The LIDC has discussed the following questions in Catania September 2007 A : To what extent and by what means should Intellectual Property Rights (“IPRs”) be subject to compulsory licensing by reason of competition law ? International Rapporteur: Tony Woodgate (United Kingdom) International report B : Ambush Marketing: too smart to be good ? Should certain ambush marketing practices be declared illegal and if yes, which ones and under what conditions ? International Rapporteur: Pierre KOBEL (Switzerland) International Report / Final conclusion For resolutions archives please click here. Contact
Code of Conduct in Regard to Fair Competition in Electronic Commerce
Comments Code of Conduct in Regard to Fair Competition in Electronic Commerce LIDC, Ligue Internationale du Droit de la Concurrence Code of conduct adopted in St. Malo, 30. September 2000, as revised in September 2004. 1. WHEREAS in general there are no differences in the application of national competition law in electronic commerce compared to the traditional marketing of goods and services; 2. WHEREAS the general principles of national competition laws are similar from a worldwide perspective, at least in the developed countries; 3. WHEREAS there are minor differences between the national competition laws as to electronic commerce, for instance considering unsolicited electronic mail messages or electronic goods or services; 4. WHEREAS there is a chance to harmonize the regulations on online marketing, at least within Europe and other industrialized nations; 5. WHEREAS greater problems arise in the context of conflict of laws as possible criteria for applying national law to internet facts are yet not harmonized; 6. WHEREAS the effect of the country of origin rule (introduced within the EU as a part of the EU Directive on Certain Legal Aspects of Electronic Commerce) on private international law remains unclear; 7. WHEREAS at least outside the scope of the Brussels and Lugano Convention the execution of court decisions within a transborder Internet context is very often complicated, sometimes even impossible; 8. WHEREAS informal and voluntary ways of enforcing common principles of online marketing should be explored, such as codes of conduct and alternative dispute resolution procedures; THE LEAGUE HEREBY ADOPTS THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION: I. The LIDC recognises that a Code of Conduct summarizing the common structure of regulations concerning online marketing will be helpful for online providers and users. II. The LIDC agrees upon the attached „Code of Conduct in regard to Fair Competition in Electronic Commerce“. III. The LIDC proposes that the Code of Conduct will be sent to the concerned international and national organizations (such as World Trade Organization, WIPO, ICC) for further integration in the discussion on internet regulation. International League for Competition Law Attachment: Code of Conduct in Regard to Fair Competition in Electronic Commerce - Commented Version - Section 1 — Scope [Application] This self regulatory framework applies to commercial communication taking place on the Internet. It is aimed solely at fair competition in the context of electronic commerce and is to be regarded as a voluntary, self-restrictive addition to existing legal requirements. The code as a whole should be clearly focused on issues relating to fair competition. By concentrating on a limited scope and taking certain issues out of consideration (i.e. data protection), the code can serve as an effective instrument for this particular segment of electronic commerce. Section 2 — Terms and Definitions Introductory note to this section: In order to prevent that regulations are misinterpreted – unintentionally or on purpose —, it is important to agree on a set of terms and definitions that is as precise and easy to handle as possible. In this Code, Cookie means an electronic file which is stored by an Internet provider on the computer of the user in order to store certain data of the user and/or his computer and make them available to the provider. Customer means a person buying goods or services over the Internet. Deep linking means the use of hyperlinks to make references to particular parts of a website without referring to the homepage. Dialer means a program or a part thereof directly or indirectly establishing or both establishing and controlling an online connection to a server. Frame means a special part of a homepage where general information is displayed apart and independently of other contents of the website. Font-matching means the integration of third parties’ trademarks, business names or misleading terms into the background colour into a website’s text. Hyperlink means any technical tool which permits the linking of one homepage to another. Inline linking means the use of frame technology in a way that conceals the true origin of the information displayed within the frame. Intermediary service means the person who is carrying out the process of accumulating consumers on the Internet, thereby serving as a intermediary between merchant and consumer group. Internet auction means the sale of goods through bidding that is carried out over the Internet. Merchant means a person selling goods or services over the Internet. Metadata means data which is used as part of the HTML code to identify the content of a website. Person means a human being as well as a legal entity and a any other third party. Power shopping describes an accumulation of consumers that is gathered through over the Internet in order to buy goods or services at a reduced price that is granted by the providers of goods or services merchant to buyers that order large quantities of the product or service in question. Resource means content, i. e. any material accessible via the Internet, regardless of the specific transmission protocol. This is to extend the Code’s scope beyond the main way of communication via the WWW (HTTP protocol) and to ensure that protocols such as FTP, SMTP, POP etc. are included. It should be clear that most regulations apply to Internet content and cannot be avoided by simply using a technically different communication channel. The advantage of such broad definition is that it covers a large variety of material distributed via the Internet (i. e. audio files, software, graphics) and need not be changed if technology extends existing standards or advances beyond the WWW. Technological terms related to the communication on the Internet itself, not its content, are to be understood by the standards definitions of the WWW consortium. This is to assure that regulations concerning technical issues cannot be misinterpreted. By using technical terms in compliance with the internationally accepted standards, their meaning will be capable of being understood beyond the scope of this Code of Conduct. The use of such terms also avoids the need to define each technological term specifically. Such information is available at http://www.w3.org/. User means the person requesting resources via the Internet. Section 3 — Regulations I. General Provisions as regards Commercial Communication [General requirements on resources] Resources provided on the Internet should not be false or misleading. They should be clear, comprehensible and valid. It should be possible to identify the person responsible for the resource. Identification information should include the name and legal form of the person, full name of the authorised representative, full postal and eMail address as well as digital or non-digital registration numbers or certificates suitable or used in off-line contexts for identification purposes, i. e. Trade register numbers, VAT numbers etc, digital certificates etc. and - in case services are offered or rendered which require permission - the indication of the competent administrative supervisory body is necessary. The last part does not specify what kind of registration number would be appropriate with regard to the fact that specific means of registration and identification may differ from country to country. These general provisions are to be met in either case. Moreover, additional information duties stated by law have to be taken into account in certain cases. [Accessibility] Resources should be designed in a way that allows the user to access identification information directly, regardless of which hierarchic level of the information system resources are requested. The user should not need more than two steps to obtain the identification information. Online advertisers should not covertly disable the back button of the customer’s browser or appliance or otherwise interfere with a visitor’s ability to exit a site. [Presentation] Identification information should be presented accurately, should be readily accessible online and be (in addition) provided in a printable version. The design of identification information should not be easily overridden by the users´ software settings, for example default settings. The last part assumes that the possibility of presenting information in one specific way on the Internet is limited by technology. [Transparency] Commercial communication has to be clearly and unambiguously identifiable as such, as soon as it is received by the recipient. In a context where it is difficult to distinguish between editorial content and advertising, the advertising should be labelled as such. [Limited and transparent collection of data] It is not suitable to collect more information on the user than is voluntarily and knowingly given by the user. If user information is supposed to be processed or used for other purposes than the single electronic commerce transaction, the user must be notified and must be given the opportunity to object. This is to ensure that user information is not exploited unless the user is aware of it and has stated his or her consent prior to further processing. This regulation is intended to avoid unauthorised collection of user information through online observation of eMail or IP addresses, the users´ hard- or software or data related to the connection. [Protection of other parties’ intellectual property] Resources should be designed in such a manner that they do not impair effective national intellectual property right laws. [Protection of minors] Filter programs applied by consumers should not be evaded by online providers. This applies particularly to contents morally endangering young people. [Embedding sanctions in contract] Host provider and other persons in an intermediary position between merchants and consumers should ensure that, within the context of contracts which they enter into, they provide for effective sanctions that can be enforced against persons who break this Code of Conduct. [Complaint procedures] Host provider and other persons in a mediary position between merchants and consumers should provide for sufficient complaint procedures. They should reserve themselves the right to take a resource from the Internet that is the subject of a substantial complaint until the dispute is settled. II. Provisions regarding specific Means of Communication 1. Commercial Electronic Mail Messages [Directories] No person should initiate the transmission, conspire with another to initiate the transmission or assist the transmission of a commercial electronic mail message. Without prior consent, a commercial electronic mail message may be transmitted where a business contact already exists through which the merchant received the electronic data of the consumer. The consumer must clearly and precisely be aware of the possibility to object easily and free of charge the use of the data at the time when it is collected and at every transmission. Sale and transfer of contact details is not allowed. [False or misleading subject lines] No person should initiate the transmission, conspire with another to initiate the transmission or assist the transmission of a commercial electronic mail message if the sender knows or has reason to know that the message contains false or misleading information in the subject line. [Concealed origin or transmission pass] No person should initiate the transmission, conspire with another to initiate the transmission or assist the transmission of a commercial electronic mail message if the sender knows or has reason to know that his message misrepresents or obscures any information in identifying the point of origin or the transmission pass of a commercial electronic mail message. 2. Dialer [Installation] A dialer should only be installed in case of explicit consent of the consumer. In order to avoid any unintentional installation, consent should be obtained in more than one step. Before obtaining approval, the consumer has to be notified in a comprehensive way and free of charge about the mode of operation as well as the arising costs. The refusal of the installation has to be applied easily and must not be impeded. [Interruption of a connection] Connections established by means of a dialer shall be interruptible at any time. When closing a website containing a commercial offer to be paid via a value-added connection, the connection not free of charge shall be interrupted automatically. 3. Frames and Hyperlinks [Inline linking] If frames are used to display information of a third party, the true origin of the information should be clearly and unmistakeably visible. It is not sufficient that merely the third party’s URL appears in the URL column. Use of third party´s information should be indicated directly by the link pointing towards the information itself or directly in relation to that link. Neither the link itself nor the frame design should suggest otherwise. [Deep linking] It is not suitable to exploit the third party´s work, contacts, references or its effort in collecting, processing or presenting the information by misrepresenting it as one’s own. The same applies to deep linking in connection with the circumvention of technical protection measures. In other respects, deep linking has to be regarded as generally unobjectionable. [Correctness] If hyperlinks are used, this should not be done in a misleading or hostile context. A hyperlink should always show an objective relation to the content to which it is directed. In particular online advertisers should not mislead online customers by creating the false impression of sponsorship, endorsement, popularity, trustworthiness, product quality or business size through the misuse of hyperlinks, other technology, or another’s intellectual property. 4. Metadata and Font-Matching [Correctness] Metadata should be correct and give a reasonable summary of the document they are part of. No person should set metadata that is suitable for generating confusion or that is likely to conceal the documents´ true content. [Intended use] Metadata should not be misused with the intention of obtaining an inappropriate ranking in search engine results. [Competitors] Metadata should not give the impression that information of competitors or third parties is used with their permission if this is not the case. [Font-Matching] It is not suitable to create websites by means of font-matching in such a way that search engine results are manipulated. 5. Cookies [Optionality] The user should be informed as to the intended purpose of a cookie. Cookies cannot be used unless there is a prior express consent of the person concerned. There should be no disavantage in access, use or functionality of the system if cookies are not accepted. [Expiration] Cookies should always have a reasonable expiration date. 6. Power shopping Power shopping/community shopping is a useful instrument if the customer knows the price at the moment of his order. If customers act on a merchant’s decision to grant reduced prices if a product is ordered in large capacities, it is not up to the merchant to change that decision or to exclude power shopping by customers. Since both parties may benefit from power shopping - the merchant may sell, in total, more products than without the benefit of power shopping while the customer is able to buy at a reduced price — it seems to be more a matter of business decisions than a question of selfregulation. Nevertheless, persons who provide the intermediary services should respect a merchant’s decision not to engage in power shopping. [Principle] Intermediary services should only engage in power shopping with merchants who offer goods or services at a reduced bulk price. [Merchants] Intermediary services should make clear on which terms a merchant is chosen as a power shopping partner. The criteria should be objective, related to the purpose, transparent and accessible. It should also be transparent in which way merchant and intermediary services are related, e. by contract. [Customers] Intermediary services should provide for transparent terms on which customers are eligible to take part in power shopping. The criteria should be objective, related to the purpose, transparent and accessible. Persons related to merchants that are power shopping partners of the intermediary service should be excluded from power shopping with the merchant they are related to. [Registry] Intermediary services should register their customers prior to power shopping. 7. Internet Auctions [Principle] Persons hosting auctions on the Internet should provide for a comprehensible description of the auction process and notify the user of the auctions’ character. [Customers] Auction services should provide for transparent terms on which persons are eligible to take part in the auction. The criteria should be objective, related to the purpose, transparent and accessible. [Registry] Auction services should register their customers prior to the auction. Section 4 — Enforcement Introductory note to this section: This Code is meant to help organizations or any other concerned body to build up their own system of regulating online marketing. In particular, it might be used as a sample for drafting voluntary codes of conduct (perhaps in combination with a quality label system). Therefore, enforcement depends on the possible sanctions within the organization concerned. [Measures] Breach of this Code can be enforced inter alia by 1. Publication of the act leading to the breach, including the person responsible, in journals or websites, also including the site of the offender. 2. Notification of the offender and a request to stop the offensive behaviour. 3. Taking the questionable material off the Internet. 4. Requesting the offender to pay a substantial fine without prejudice to damages. [Complaint procedure] Everyone should have the possibility to submit complaints to the concerned body, which provides a sufficient administrative process in which the complaint can be settled in a simple and quick way. [Dispute resolution procedure] Online merchants should use at least one mechanism that provides customers with either a guarantee of satisfaction or a fair method for resolving differences with regard to a transaction. If an online merchant offers third party dispute resolution, it should use a trusted third party that offers impartial, accessible, and timely dispute resolution procedures that are free to customers or at a charge to customers that is not disproportionate to the value of goods or services involved in the dispute. Online merchants should provide customers with easy-to-find and understandable contact information for such third parties, including a link to any third party sites used for such means. Popular downloads
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ERIC
The official mean of publication of The Ligue is the RIC. You will find in the RIC articles on most recent developments on competition law within the European Union but also in other States where The Ligue is represented through national organisations. Since 2003 the RIC is only published in electronic form, and is now called ERIC. Two editions a year are planned, the first at the end of February, the second at the end of August. Jacques Lassier Prize
 The laureats of the J. Lassier Prize 2006 are ex aequo Laetitia Driguez, with here work "Droit social et droit de la concurrence", and David Bosco with his work "Le contrat exclusif". The latest laureats of this Prize were:1990 - Dominique Graz (Suisse) Propriété intellectuelle et libre circulation des marchandises 1994 - Daniel Fasquelle (France) Droit américain et droit communautaires de ententes 1998 - Friedrich Ruffler (Autriche) Der Einfluss des Europarchets auf das Österreichische UWG 2002 - Raphaël Arn (Suisse) La publicité choquante - Vers une nouvelle dimension du droit de la concurrence déloyale |
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