In the era of economic liberalism, opening markets to competition is widely encouraged in modern societies.
In France, freedom of trade and industry is a long-standing principle, first proclaimed after the French Revolution by the so-called Allarde Decree of March 2 and 17, 1791.
This fundamental principle, that was given constitutional value by the French Constitutional Council in a decision dated January 16, 1982, has one key exception: Unfair competition.