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How much effectiveness for the EU Damages Directive? : Contractual Clauses and Antitrust Damages Actions

Nowag, Julian LU and Tarkkila, Liisa (2020) In Common Market Law Review 57(2). p.433-474
Abstract
The Damages Directive has been celebrated as a milestone for the private enforcement of EU competition law. The Directive harmonises national procedural laws and aims to facilitate full compensation for damages occurred as a result of competition law violations. At the same time, US and EU businesses more frequently use contractual clauses that might present obstacles in obtaining compensation. Recent high-profile examples include a US antitrust damages case against Uber which was inadmissible because of clauses contained in the terms and conditions of the app or clauses included in Ryanair’s terms and conditions. This paper explores the extent to which jurisdiction, mandatory arbitration, and clauses that prevent the participation in... (More)
The Damages Directive has been celebrated as a milestone for the private enforcement of EU competition law. The Directive harmonises national procedural laws and aims to facilitate full compensation for damages occurred as a result of competition law violations. At the same time, US and EU businesses more frequently use contractual clauses that might present obstacles in obtaining compensation. Recent high-profile examples include a US antitrust damages case against Uber which was inadmissible because of clauses contained in the terms and conditions of the app or clauses included in Ryanair’s terms and conditions. This paper explores the extent to which jurisdiction, mandatory arbitration, and clauses that prevent the participation in class actions endanger the effectiveness of the EU Damages Directive. It shows that, in contrast to consumer situations, such dangers exist currently in commercial cases. It suggests a balancing exercise between the parties’ autonomy and full effectiveness of the rights of victims of competition law violations. While the principle of effectiveness provides some protection, these dangers to the development of a strong private enforcement in Europe are likely to remain in the future and suggest a renewed emphasis on private enforcement by consumers. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Private enforcement, Competition law, Effectiveness, Contracts, Private autonomy, Consumers, Businesses, Damages directive, Konkurrensrätt
in
Common Market Law Review
volume
57
issue
2
pages
433 - 474
publisher
Kluwer Law International
external identifiers
  • scopus:85095760279
ISSN
0165-0750
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
7dad02a1-0a7c-47ff-9015-b38bea561f21
date added to LUP
2020-05-05 11:56:29
date last changed
2022-04-18 22:17:20
@article{7dad02a1-0a7c-47ff-9015-b38bea561f21,
  abstract     = {{The Damages Directive has been celebrated as a milestone for the private enforcement of EU competition law. The Directive harmonises national procedural laws and aims to facilitate full compensation for damages occurred as a result of competition law violations. At the same time, US and EU businesses more frequently use contractual clauses that might present obstacles in obtaining compensation. Recent high-profile examples include a US antitrust damages case against Uber which was inadmissible because of clauses contained in the terms and conditions of the app or clauses included in Ryanair’s terms and conditions. This paper explores the extent to which jurisdiction, mandatory arbitration, and clauses that prevent the participation in class actions endanger the effectiveness of the EU Damages Directive. It shows that, in contrast to consumer situations, such dangers exist currently in commercial cases. It suggests a balancing exercise between the parties’ autonomy and full effectiveness of the rights of victims of competition law violations. While the principle of effectiveness provides some protection, these dangers to the development of a strong private enforcement in Europe are likely to remain in the future and suggest a renewed emphasis on private enforcement by consumers.}},
  author       = {{Nowag, Julian and Tarkkila, Liisa}},
  issn         = {{0165-0750}},
  keywords     = {{Private enforcement; Competition law; Effectiveness; Contracts; Private autonomy; Consumers; Businesses; Damages directive; Konkurrensrätt}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{433--474}},
  publisher    = {{Kluwer Law International}},
  series       = {{Common Market Law Review}},
  title        = {{How much effectiveness for the EU Damages Directive? : Contractual Clauses and Antitrust Damages Actions}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/79205136/How_much_effectiveness_for_the_EU_Damages_Directive_Contractual_Clauses_and_Antitrust_Damages_Act_WP_Final_.pdf}},
  volume       = {{57}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}