EU Competition Law and Intellectual Property Rights

This authoritative book from one of the top experts in the field sets out a detailed and practical analysis of the complex and often fraught relationship between EU competition rules and intellectual property rights (IPRs).

Beginning with a primer on the general principles that underpin intellectual property and competition law, the book then provides exhaustive coverage of the application of Article 101 TFEU on anticompetitive agreements to IP licensing. Detailed treatment of licensing agreements includes; agreements under the Technology Transfer Block Exemption regulation (TTBER); agreements outside of the scope of the TTBER, such as multilateral licences, pooling agreements and settlement agreements; horizontal agreements such as those relating to R&D; and vertical agreements such as those relating to distribution and franchising.



Extensive analysis of the application of Article 102 TFEU on abuse of dominance provides clarity on when and how conduct relating to IPRs might infringe Article 102. This is followed by a chapter dedicated to the EU merger control regime and its implications for IPRs, including their role in merger remedies. Whilst there is a focus on the Tech sector throughout, the book also includes a chapter dedicated to the pharmaceutical sector, and finally a chapter on Competition Law standards and FRAND.



Key Features:








Focus on the Tech and Pharmaceutical sectors


Extensive commentary on relevant case law and landmark judgments


Coverage of general principles which underpin competition law and IPRs


Practical guidance on how lawyers might assess the likelihood of infringement and advise clients accordingly


Comprehensive treatment of competition rules relating to licence agreements across Patents, Copyright and Trade Marks



EU Competition Law and Intellectual Property Rights is an essential resource for competition lawyers litigating Tech and Pharma cases and advising companies in those sectors, for in-house counsel within those industries, and for IP lawyers needing to understand the competition aspects of licensing agreements. It is also an indispensable reference for courts, enforcement agencies and national competition authorities, as well as for scholars researching in the field.