Des produits appartenant à une même famille mais présentant des caractéristiques et propriétés thérapeutiques ou virologiques différentes peuvent constituer autant de marchés spécifiques, dès lors que ces produits ne sont pas substituables entre eux du point de vue des utilisateurs ou des prescripteurs.

L'établissement qui, postérieurement à la commission des infractions, a repris l'ensemble des biens, droits et obligations, créances et dettes d'un groupement d'intérêt public auteur de pratiques anticoncurrentielles ainsi que l'ensemble de ses activités et de son personnel de manière à en assurer en droit et en fait la continuité économique et fonctionnelle, assume la responsabilité de ces pratiques.

Cass. com., 28 février 2006, n° 05-12.138

Cass. 2e civ., 28 février 2006, n° 04-15.406

Cass. 2e civ., 28 février 2006, n° 03-19.125

Cass. 1re civ., 28 février 2006, n° 03-20.150

Cass. 2e civ., 28 février 2006, n° 04-12.616

Cass. 1re civ., 28 février 2006, n° 03-21.048

Cass. crim., 28 février 2006, n° 05-83.461

Cass. 2e civ., 28 février 2006, n° 04-16.396

Cass. 2e civ., 28 février 2006, n° 04-15.983

Cass. 3e civ., 28 février 2006, n° 05-11.827

Cass. com., 28 février 2006, n° 04-14.719

EC, February 27, 2006, No M.4108

Imposing a definitive countervailing duty on imports of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film originating in India following an expiry review pursuant to Article 18 of Regulation (EC) No 2026-97

CEU, February 27, 2006, No 367-2006

Les subventions d'exploitation consenties par une Chambre de commerce à une compagnie aérienne, afin de l'inciter à desservir un aéroport et ainsi augmenter le trafic, ne correspondent pas à la rémunération normale d'une prestation qu'aurait pu verser un investisseur privé en économie de marché dès lors qu'elles excèdent très largement le coût des actions de promotion effectivement réalisées, la compagnie n'ayant en outre aucune obligation de restituer les sommes versées en cas d'inexécution.

Le juge national peut dans le cadre de son contrôle du respect de l'obligation de notification préalable, rechercher si une disposition répond ou non à la qualification d'aide d'Etat.

CE, 8e et 3e sous-sect. réunies, 27 février 2006, n° 264406

La succession sans interruption de contrats à durée déterminée, traduit l'existence d'une relation commerciale établie.

Le juge peut apprécier le caractère raisonnable du préavis contractuel eu égard à la durée des relations antérieures.

La dépendance de la victime constitue un élément d'appréciation de la durée du préavis, lorsqu'il ne peut lui être reproché de ne pas avoir diversifié sa clientèle.

CA Bourges, ch. civ., 27 février 2006, n° 05-01063

Cass. ass. plén., 24 février 2006, n° 05-12.679

Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company/ Lanitis  Bros

EC, February 24, 2006, No M.4124 

Malgré la situation de monopole de l'entité absorbante sur le marché de la vente de livres en club, un effet de levier sur le marché de la vente de livres au détail, du fait de l'implantation d'un espace dédié aux livres clubs au sein des librairies acquises, est peu probable dès lors que la nouvelle entité détiendra une part inférieure à 6 % sur le second marché.

Malgré la situation de monopole de l'entité absorbante dans l'activité de vente de livres par clubs, un effet de gamme sur le marché de la vente de livres au détail, du fait de l'implantation d'un espace dédié aux livres clubs au sein des librairies acquises, est peu probable dès lors les livres clubs seront réservés à la vente aux seuls adhérents du club.

Acquisition de la société Clemval, holding de la société Alsatia, par la société Bertelsmann, via sa filiale Média Communication SAS

Conseil Conc., 24 février 2006, n° 06-A-02

Cass. ass. plén., 24 février 2006, n° 04-20.525

EC, February 23, 2006, No M.4102 

By using in its catalogues the core elements of a distinguishing mark of a manufacturer, which is known in trade circles, the supplier of compatible products is not taking unfair advantage of the distinctive character or the reputation of the mark when he uses his own acronym and clearly distinguishes between his own and his competitor's identities.

Comparative advertising intended for a specialist public is less likely to mislead that public as to the identity of the advertiser than if it were intended for final consumers.

The benefit of comparative advertising to consumers must necessarily be taken into account in determining whether an advertiser is taking unfair advantage of the reputation of a trade mark, trade name or other distinguishing marks of a competitor.

CJEC, 1st chamber, February 23, 2006, No C-59/05

National rules which apply identical taxation provisions for the estates of nationals who have remained in the national territory and those who have transferred their residence abroad and who died within 10 years of ceasing to reside, do not constitute a restriction on the movement of capital insofar as they only apply to nationals of that State.

An inheritance is a movement of capital except in cases where its constituent elements are confined within a single Member State.

CJEC, 3rd chamber, February 23, 2006, No C-513/03

A national law which, in the case of a branch of a company having its seat in another Member State, lays down a tax rate on profits which is higher where the branch distributes its profits in full to its parent company, restricts the freedom of establishment.

CJEC, 3rd chamber, February 23, 2006, No C-253/03

National legislation which excludes the possibility for a parent company subject to unlimited tax liability in that State of deducting for tax purposes financing costs relating to dividends which are exempt from tax, because they are derived from an indirect subsidiary established in another Member State, is contrary to Article 49 TFEU.

CJEC, 1st chamber, February 23, 2006, No C-471/04

The fact that a marketing method is apparently more efficient and profitable is not a sufficient reason to assert that the national provision prohibiting it is caught by the prohibition laid down in Article 34 TFEU.

A national prohibition from selling in private homes which applies to all traders operating in the territory of the Member State, whatever their nationality, without making any distinction based on the origin of the products in question, does not fall within the scope of application of Article 34 TFEU.

CJEC, 3rd chamber, February 23, 2006, No C-441/04

The indirect acquisition by both undertakings of 50% of the capital of another and of the associated voting rights allows them to exercise a decisive influence, as this confers on them the power to block the strategic decisions of the joint undertaking.

A single concentration can be the result of a number of formally distinct legal transactions, provided that those transactions are interdependent and together confer economic control over the activities of an undertaking.

The fact that a newly-created joint undertaking holds between 50 and 60% of the market, which is fourteen times higher than its largest competitor, is strong evidence of a position of dominance.

The fact that a newly-created joint undertaking holds 50 and 60% of the market, i.e. at least fourteen times higher than its largest competitor, is strong evidence of a position of dominance.

The existence of significant excess capacities on a given market is sufficient to show that a potential competitor of the newly-created joint undertaking is unlikely to enter the market.

A series of regulatory and economic factors relating to the two-year period necessary for the construction of a brickwork, the high level of investment costs, the significant excess capacities in the sector together with the difficulty for undertakings active on other segments of the market to launch the production of a different material, suffices to show that a potential competitor of the newly-created joint undertaking is unlikely to enter the market.

A series of regulatory and economic factors relating to the need to obtain administrative authorization and the two-year period necessary for the construction of a brickwork are sufficient to show that a potential competitor of the newly-created joint undertaking is unlikely to enter the sector.

The difficulties faced by undertakings active in other market segments in launching production of a different wall-building material is sufficient evidence of the fact that a potential competitor of the joint undertaking is unlikely to enter the market.

The buyer power of customers of a newly created joint undertaking cannot offset its market power when they are widely dispersed and do not have the ability to resort to credible alternative sources of supply within a reasonable time if the supplier decides to increase its prices or to make the conditions of delivery less favorable.

The veto right held by two companies relating to the composition of the decision-making bodies of a subsidiary in which they both hold a 50% stake, is sufficient to confer joint control.

Control held by commercial undertakings over a company may be granted to their exclusive shareholder, their majority shareholders or those jointly controlling them although they cannot sit on this company's management board, insofar as the undertakings comply in any event with the decisions of such exclusive shareholder, majority shareholders or those jointly controlling them.

A stock transfer is not a valid commitment where it does not entirely solve the identified competition issue in letting the new entity's dominant position to remain without third parties being able to improve their positions.

A concentration may be deemed to arise within the meaning of Article 3(1) of the Merger Regulation even in the case of a number of formally distinct legal transactions, provided that those transactions are interdependent in such a way that none of them would be carried out without the others.

The fact that a joint venture is a full-function undertaking and therefore economically autonomous from an operational viewpoint does not mean that it enjoys autonomy as regards the adoption of its strategic decisions, but that it carries out all the functions of an autonomous economic entity on a lasting basis.

CFI, 4th chamber, extended composition, February 23, 2006, No T-282/02

CA Grenoble, 1re ch. corr., 23 février 2006, n° 04-01289

The inadmissibility of an action for annulment against a decision of incompatibility brought after the time-limit does not result in the inadmissibility of the reference to the Court for a preliminary ruling relating to the validity of that decision where it is not self-evident that the action for annulment brought by the recipients of the aid measures would have been admissible.

Concerning agricultural products, all aid in support of national production is liable to affect trade between Member States.

Aid to the forestry undertakings, a sector which is not included in the list of agricultural products in Annex II to the treaty, is not part of a specific scheme but is entirely governed by the provisions of Articles 107 and 108 TFEU. 

Aid schemes aimed at agricultural undertakings in difficulty are not operating aid when they do not contribute to the financing of investments already made, do not exceed the rates generally allowed by the Commission and either are consequent upon a readjustment of the rate to offset variations in the cost of money, or are granted to farms which offer sufficient guarantees of economic recovery.

Décisions de justice rendues en 2006 - Page 59