VBER 2022: EU Competition Law for Vertical Agreements: Digital, Dual, Exclusive and Selective Distribution plus Franchising (Law for Professionals)

Preface
Contents
About the Author
Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
1: EU Competition Law at a Glance
	1.1 Why EU Competition Law Matters
	1.2 Where EU Competition Law Matters
		1.2.1 European Union
		1.2.2 European Economic Area
		1.2.3 Parallel Application of EU and National Competition Laws
		1.2.4 Switzerland
			Example
			Example
			Example
			Example
			Example
			Example
			Example
		1.2.5 UK
			Pan-European Distribution Systems
		1.2.6 Rest of the World
			Competition Compliance Checks
	1.3 The Principle: Prohibition of Anti-competitive Agreements
	1.4 Agreements Outside Article 101 TFEU
		1.4.1 Agreements Between SME
			Competition Compliance for SMEs
		1.4.2 Agreements of Only Local Effect
		1.4.3 Agreements of Minor Importance
			1.4.3.1 De Minimis Notice: Thresholds
			1.4.3.2 The Market Definition Notice
		1.4.4 Agreements Based on State Action
		1.4.5 Agency Agreements
			Contract Drafting Advice
			Example
		1.4.6 Intercompany Agreements
			Single Economic Unit
		1.4.7 Agreements with Ancillary Restraints
		1.4.8 Subcontracting Agreements
		1.4.9 Selective Distribution Systems Complying with ``Metro´´
	1.5 Block Exemptions as Safe Harbour
	1.6 Outside the VBER: The Article 101(3) TFEU Exception
	Appendix: Test Scheme for Vertical Agreements Under Swiss Law
	References
2: VBER 2022: The Safe Harbour for Distribution Agreements
	The Basic Test of Exemption Under the VBER
	2.1 Article 2 VBER: Exemption for Vertical Restraints
	2.2 Structure, Definitions, and Players of the VBER
	2.3 Exemption of Vertical Restraints: Principal Scope
		Example
		Example
	2.4 Exemption of Vertical Restraints: Re-Exceptions/Limits
		2.4.1 Agreements with Associations, Article 2(2) and Article 9 VBER
		2.4.2 Agreements on Intellectual Property Rights, Article 2(3) VBER
		2.4.3 Dual Distribution: Agreements of Competitors, Article 2(3) VBER
	2.5 Information Exchange in Dual Distribution, Article 2(5) VBER
	2.6 Hybrid Online Platforms, Article 2(6) VBER
	2.7 Priority of other Block Exemption Regulations
	References
3: Articles 3 and 8 VBER: Market Share Thresholds
	3.1 The Thresholds
	3.2 How to Determine the Relevant Markets
	References
4: Article 4 VBER: Hardcore Restrictions-Black Clauses
	4.1 How (Not) to Restrict the Buyer´s Sale Price
		4.1.1 What´s New for Price Maintenance?
		4.1.2 The Principle: RRP Yes, RPM and MAP No
		4.1.3 The Exception: Short-Time Measures, Efficiency Gains
			Example
		4.1.4 Special Case: Agency Agreements
		4.1.5 Special Case: Fulfilment (Multi-Level Distribution)
		4.1.6 Practical Tips for the Exchange on Pricing
	4.2 Exclusive Distribution Systems
		4.2.1 What´s New for Exclusive Distribution?
		4.2.2 Restricting Active Versus Passive Sales
			Example
			Example
			Example
		4.2.3 Shared Exclusivity
		4.2.4 Passing on the Sales Restrictions
			Example
			Example
			Example
			Example
		4.2.5 Territory and Customer Restrictions: Summary
	4.3 Selective Distribution Systems
		4.3.1 What´s New for Selective Distribution?
		4.3.2 How to Escape Article 101 TFEU Under the Metro Criteria
		4.3.3 How to Set Up Selective Distribution?
		4.3.4 Sustainability as Selection Criterion
		4.3.5 Restricting Cross-Supplies: How to Reduce Grey-Market Sales
			Example
			Example
			Example
		4.3.6 Restricting Passive Sales: How to Comply with the Geo-Blocking Regulation
		4.3.7 Territory and Customer Restrictions: Summary
	4.4 Free Distribution
		4.4.1 What´s New for Free Distribution?
		4.4.2 Which Hardcore Restrictions to Avoid in Free Distribution?
	4.5 Internet Sales and Advertising Restrictions
		4.5.1 What´s New for Digital Distribution?
		4.5.2 The Principle: Maintain the Effective Use of the Internet
		4.5.3 First Re-exception: Restrictions of Online Sales
		4.5.4 Second Re-Exception: Restrictions of Online Advertising
			Contract Drafting Advice
		4.5.5 Third (Unwritten) Re-Exception: System-Specific Restrictions
	4.6 Aftermarket Restrictions: Sale of Components as Spare Parts
		4.6.1 What´s New for Aftermarket Restrictions?
		4.6.2 Aftermarket Hardcore Restriction vs Restriction of Subcontracting
		4.6.3 Aftermarket Restrictions: Details on Article 4(f) VBER
			Example
			Example
			Example
	References
5: Article 5 VBER: Excluded Restrictions-Grey Clauses
	5.1 What´s New for Grey Clauses?
	5.2 Non-compete Obligations, Article 5(1)(a) and (2) VBER
		Example
		Example
		Example
		5.2.1 Maximum Term: Five Years
			Example
		5.2.2 New: Evergreening Non-compete Obligations
		5.2.3 Re-Exception: Outlets Owned or Leased by Supplier
		5.2.4 Individual Assessment of Non-Competes
	5.3 Post-Contractual Non-Competes, Article 5(1)(b) and (3) VBER
		5.3.1 Direct Non-Compete Obligations
		5.3.2 Indirect Non-Compete Obligations
	5.4 Non-compete in Selective Distribution, Article 5(1)c) VBER
		Example
	5.5 Parity Obligations, Article 5(1)(d) VBER
		5.5.1 What´s New for Across-Platform Retail Parity Obligations?
			Example
		5.5.2 Other Parity Obligations
	References
6: Article 6 and 7 VBER: Withdrawal/Non-application
	6.1 What´s New for Withdrawing the Benefit of the VBER?
	6.2 Withdrawal of the Benefit in Individual Cases
		Example
		Example
	6.3 What´s New for Non-applying the VBER?
	6.4 Non-application of the VBER
	References
7: Franchise Systems
	7.1 What´s New for Franchising?
	7.2 Which Competition Rules to Comply with in Franchising?
	References
8: Dual Distribution and Other Dualisms
	8.1 Dual Pricing
		Example
		Contract Drafting Advice
	8.2 Dual Distribution
	8.3 Dual Role Agents
	References
9: Digital Distribution: Online Sales and Online Platforms
	9.1 Online Sales Restriction, Practical Overview
		Example
		Example
	9.2 Pure Digital Distribution
	9.3 Online Intermediation Services
	Appendix: Digital Distribution-Selection Criteria
	References
10: Practical Implementation of the VBER 2022
	10.1 Analysing the Business and the Supply Chain
	10.2 Gap Analysis: Checklist of Change
	10.3 Designing/Restructuring Distribution Systems
		10.3.1 Combining Vertical Restraints
		10.3.2 Combining Different Distribution Systems: Reciprocal Protection
		10.3.3 Combining Exclusive and Selective Distribution in a Territory?
		10.3.4 Transition Periods for Implementing Change
	10.4 Severability Clauses as a Loophole?
		Example
		Example
	Appendix to Chapter 10
	References
Appendix 1: Synopsis VBER 2010 vs 2022
Appendix 2: List of Laws
Index