23rd Annual Burrell Lecture and Dinner
Speaker: The Rt Hon Lady Rose of Colmworth
Agreements on prices by undertakings selling competing products are regarded as the most heinous of competition law infringements. What happens when government sets prices at which those competing firms can sell their goods or when government limits the pricing freedom of IP owners? There was extensive use of government price controls in the Second World War, and it still exists today in some areas, notably medicines. Early cases in the Restrictive Practices Court considered the public interest (if any) in price stability. There is extensive EU case law on when government involvement in price setting is acceptable or may provide some defence for undertakings. Current economic conditions and the range of solutions available to government make a historical review both valuable and timely.
For further details, including registration, please visit the CLA website.