BOOK REVIEW
ABUSE OF DOMINANCE IN EU COMPETITION LAW
Emerging Trends
Edited by Pier Luigi Parcu, Giorgio Monti and Marco Botta
ISBN: 978 1 78536 761 8 (book)
978 1 78536 762 5 (eBook)
This book is available electronically in the Elgaronline
Law subject collection
DOI 10 4337/9781785367625
EDWARD ELGAR PUBLISHING LIMITED
www.e-elgar.com
www.elgaronline.com
“RELEVANT INSIGHTS INTO THE ENTIRE COMPETITION LAW WORLD”:
NEW LINES OF RESEARCH INTO ABUSE OF DOMINANCE
An appreciation by Phillip Taylor MBE and Elizabeth Taylor of Richmond Green Chambers
Abuse, or abusive practices in the commercial sphere have unfortunately become enough of a commonplace to have generated a complex body of legislation aimed at preventing them; or, if prevention doesn’t work, providing redress in the courts to those businesses or individuals disadvantaged by abuse.
Such is the overall aim of a key piece of European legislation (well known to competition lawyers), namely Article 102 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which is the focus of this book.
To perhaps oversimplify, ‘abuse of dominance’, involves big companies bullying little companies by placing them at a disadvantage. Refusing to supply a competitor, or monopolizing a market by limiting consumer access to products or services are only two examples. Note, however, that the interpretation of the terms ‘abuse’ or ‘dominance’ have been subject to a confusing range of interpretations.
Fortunately, this book cuts through much of the confusion by providing a succinct yet remarkably thorough examination of the many issues inherent in this complex, yet pivotal area of commercial law. Yes, the subject matter is EU competition law, but the inherent principles are applicable internationally. In the opinion of Hein Hobbelen of Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Belgium, ‘…the book’s comparative approach will provide relevant insight to the entire competition law world.’
Containing the research papers of eight international contributors plus that of the three editors, the book includes a thorough study of recent law and current thinking in this field. UK readers will be especially interested in the discussion by Richard Whish, Emeritus Professor at Kings College London – who offers a prime example of ‘abuse of dominance’ in the case of Arriva The Shires v. London Luton Airport Operations. Arriva, the coach services company, eventually won and if you want to know how and why, read this book.
Whish reminds us at the beginning of his article that ‘the abuse of dominance is forbidden in the UK by Article 102 ‘and a network of other relevant legislation’.
With its cross-border perspective and wealth of research into the practical applications of ‘abuse of dominance’ provisions this book will prove to be of immense value to practitioners, academics and policy makers alike. Commercial lawyers will find it especially useful.
The publication date is cited as at 2017.
