My colleagues Charles Livingstone and Roger Murray have written a short article on some proposed changes by the European Commission to the way in which competition law governs supply chain relationships – in particular distribution agreements. The new rules will replace the current block exemptions, which are due to expire next May.
Distribution relationships are common in the IT industry as a way of reselling hardware, software and other goods and services, and suppliers will often seek to use distribution agreements as a way of controlling the supply of their products.
The article is well worth reading for anyone involved in that supply chain – be they a manufacturer/licensor or distributor (or any of a multitude of other IT industry monikers, such as “partner” or “reseller”).
In particular, the proposed new rules would change the rules in relation to online sales.
Anyone wishing to comment on the proposed new laws has until 28 September 2009 to do so.
See: Competition in the supply chain: changes to the rules every business needs to know.
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