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ARTICLE · 17 JANUARY 2011

Vertical Agreements - European Union Level

Van Bael & Bellis
Van Bael & Bellis
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Van Bael & Bellis

Van Bael & Bellis

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On 15 December 2010, the General Court (the "Court") annulled a decision adopted in 2008 by the Commission which rejected a complaint by the European Confederation for Watch Repairer Associations ("CEAHR") against several Swiss manufacturers of luxury watches.

BelgiumAntitrust/Competition Law
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General Court rules on market definition concerning primary products (luxury watches) and after-markets

On 15 December 2010, the General Court (the "Court") annulled a decision adopted in 2008 by the Commission which rejected a complaint by the European Confederation for Watch Repairer Associations ("CEAHR") against several Swiss manufacturers of luxury watches. In its 2004 complaint, the CEAHR had alleged, in particular, that several luxury watch manufacturers entered into an agreement or a concerted practice and committed an abuse of dominance by refusing to continue supplying spare parts to independent repairers. In the 2008 decision, the Commission rejected the complaint on the ground that there was insufficient Community interest to continue the investigation for four main reasons.

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