Using creative leeway with legal certainty –
Breaches of the competition laws may have serious consequences. First and foremost, there is the monetary fine imposed on companies. This can amount to maximum 10 % of the entire sales volume generated by the group of companies in the previous year. Furthermore, the German Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) is entitled to impose a fine on the staff members who are involved personally. In many cases, the risk of competition law infringements is even greater because, apart from the fines, the company may be threatened with claims for damages by the injured parties, the ineffectiveness...