Luxury goods makers battle online retailers

Article reports that a lobbying war has broken out in Brussels, February 2010 between big online retailers, such as Ebay and Amazon, and luxury goods manufacturers over rules that allow manufacturers to choose how their goods are distributed and sold in the European Union.

The fight has been triggered by mandatory review of regulations that dictate the terms on which so-called 'vertical agreements' are exempted from normal competition rules.

European Commission: DG Competition: Public consultations: Review of the competition rules applicable to vertical agreements http://ec.europa.eu/competition/consultations/2009_vertical_agreements/index.html

EurActiv, 30.7.09: EU takes on distribution sector, eyes online sales http://www.euractiv.com/innovation-enterprise/eu-takes-distribution-sector-eye-news-222365

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