Commercial Law

In November 2018, the Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (General Directorate for Competition, Consumer Protection and Frauds) published the results of its investigation concerning compliance with the rules on economic protection of consumers in the electronic communications industry. The investigation revealed many breaches of French consumer […]

Decree n°2018-1126 of December 11, 2018 on the protection of trade secrets (the “Decree”) adopted in furtherance of Law n°2018-670 of July 30, 2018 was published in the Official Journal of the French Republic on December 13, 2018. This eagerly awaited Decree further details the procedural aspects related to the protection of trade secrets and […]

In a decision dated April 5, 2018, the Commercial Chamber of the Cour de Cassation (French Supreme court) confirmed that failure by a party to achieve the sales targets set forth in a contract does not alone suffice to justify the termination of an established business relationship without prior notice. The trial judges must indeed […]

Two years after the adoption of the so-called Trade Secrets Directive[1], the Bill endorsed by the Joint Committee (i.e. a legislative committee composed of an equal number of members from the Senate and the National Assembly) on March 24, 2018 was finally passed by Parliament on June 21, 2018. This article provides insights on the […]

In an opinion dated September 21, 2017 and released in early November, the Commission d’examen des pratiques commerciales (Commercial Practices Review Committee, hereinafter the “CEPC”)[1] ruled on the lawfulness of the payment of year-end rebates provided for in an annual agreement between a supplier and a distributor whereas the requirements applicable for such payment were […]

In a decision dated June 21, 2017[1], the Cour de Cassation (French Supreme Court) ruled that the termination of a distribution agreement during the contractual trial period could not be considered as abusive. It follows from this decision that the parties are free to include in a distribution agreement a trial period during which each […]