Due to its effect on trading practices relating to pricing, distribution and the licensing of intellectual property rights and also on the overall strategy of businesses within the Market, the competition law of the European Communities may have widespread bearing. It affects not only enterprises doing business within the Community, but also multi-nationals from the USA, Japan and other nations who do business with the Community. This book aims to combine a full account of the substantive law with an assessment both of the historical development and overall effectiveness of the elements in the competition policy of the European Communities. The first section deals with the historical development leading up to Articles 85 and 86 of the Treaty of Rome and with the period of the first decade (1958 - 1967) of their implementation by the European Commission, giving particular attention to the policy choices which had to be made at that time and which have subsequently affected the development of the substantive law. The second part contains an account of the substantive competition law of the Community, emphasizing the role played by the European Court of Justice and dealing with both the regulations and caselaw of the Commission itself, on issues such as intellectual property licensing, distribution, price and market-sharing cartels, trade associations and state aids. The final part is an assessment of the effectiveness of Commission policy in this area, touching on both its real achievements and on its past and present problems. The last chapter puts forward some suggestions for improving the co-ordination and implementation of competition policies by the Community and considers how the foundations laid in the last 30 years can be built on in the coming decades. In researching the book the author consulted officials of the Directorate General IV of the Commission which is responsible for the administration of Community competition policy. The work is geared towards advanced students and practitioners of Community law as well as government and Community officials, bankers, economists and journalists.

Table of Contents:
Table of statutes and cases. A chronological table (1951-1987). Part 1 The early years: the nature and importance of competition policy; the origins of European competition law; early years of DG IV; the advent of group exemption. Part 2 The substantive law of the European Community: Article 85 (1) - analysis, conditions for exemption; horizontal agreements - defensive cartels, specialization and R & D, joint ventures; distribution - exclusive distribution and purchasing, selective distribution and franchising, price maintenance and other vertical restraints; intellectual property rights - licensing, the effects of Articles 30-36; abuse of a dominant position - Article 86; trade associations; Community law and national law; member states and EEC competition rules; state aids; EEC competition law in the context of world trade. Part 3 Conclusions and prospects: 30 years of the Treaty of Rome; the future of European competition law.