European Commission rules against collecting societies

Thursday, 17 July 2008

The Commission yesterday adopted an antitrust decision prohibiting 24 European collecting societies from restricting competition.  Nils von Hinten Reed was the expert economist for the complainants RTL and MusicChoice.  The case is important for the analysis under Article 81 of agreements and practices.  Mr von Hinten Reed provided analysis of the correct economic counterfactual which enabled the conclusion that the collecting societies fell within the scope of Article 81 (and particular restrictions could not be exempted).