Online bargains: The disruptors disrupted

Secret shoppers are something one might be more likely to associate with TV documentaries or supermarket price wars

than European Commission inquiries, but the EU has admitted taking part in such activities in recent months,

as part of the research for its report on the e-commerce sector.

The EU has indicated it wants to have an overview of prevailing market trends, gathering evidence on potential barriers

to e-commerce, and a better understanding of potentially restrictive business practices

and whether or not there is any underlying rationale for their use.The concern is that despite

the mantra of having achieved a single market with no borders for goods or services, in reality there are still major challenges ahead.

While the commission recognises that businesses should have the freedom to determine their sales strategies online, at the same time, in its

role as an anti-trust authority,

it is determined to ensure that businesses do not engage in anti-competitive practices, thereby preventing European consumers from gaining the

full benefit of e-commerce in terms of greater choice and

lower prices.The commission's investigation focused on several consumer sectors, including cosmetics, electronics, clothes, and shoes. It accepts that e-commerce is an important driver of price cuts, transparency, and price competition, increasing consumer choice and the ability to find the best deals. The report reveals that from the supply

side over half of retailers track competitors' prices and the vast majority respond to changes.

However, the commission has made some interesting findings. Manufacturers generally have responded to the growth of e-commerce by adopting a number of practices to give them greater control of the distribution networks for their products and the positioning of their brands.

Authorised resellersBy operating selective distribution channels so that their products can only be sold by pre-selected authorised sellers, they have more control than previously, and increasingly manufacturers are selling

their products online directly

to consumers, thereby competing with their own

trade customer base.

The report has found that manufacturers regularly stipulate within distribution agreements that retailers cannot sell beyond a certain designated geographical area, online, or at anything other than the 'suggested' retail prices

if they wish to be able to secure supplies from manufacturers in the future.

The commission suggests

that such restrictions may, in certain circumstances, make cross-border shopping or

online shopping in general more difficult and ultimately harm consumers by preventing them from benefiting from greater choice and lower prices in e-commerce.

This is not just simply in

relation to physical products:

the commission is similarly concerned by the availability of licences from copyright holders, which it believes is restricting competition in the marketplace.The commission perhaps surprisingly comments that it has found that 'copyright licensing agreements tend to be complex and exclusive, foreseeing what territories, technologies, and release windows digital content providers can use'. Clearly, we must be aware that it may step

in to change the ground rules

and free up competition at

some point.The preliminary report equally indicates concerns that some retailers are restricted from having either foreign language versions of their websites or providing ready currency conversions, simply with the aim of ensuring

a degree of market control.Even though the commission recognises that its principal focus will be on 'dominant market players', it seems likely that a considerable number

of provisions in distribution agreements will be called

into question in its inquiry.The commission has already indicated that the preliminary report identifies business practices which may raise competition concerns.

As a result, it is likely to open specific investigations to ensure compliance with EU rules on restrictive business practices

and abuse of dominant market positions.

Making representations

At this stage, practitioners would be wise to warn clients engaged in the consumer sector, whether as manufacturers, distributors,

or retailers, that the commission is on the prowl.

Making representations

to the commission before the consultation ends in November may be worthwhile. Practitioners should also review distribution agreements which contain restrictive practices with

clients to highlight provisions which could be called into question once the commission publishes its final report in

May 2017.Ironically for a disruptive technology, e-commerce can now look forward to being similarly disrupted by the commission, to a degree

which may not have previously been expected.

Jonathan T R Silverman is senior partner at Silverman Sherliker

www.silvermansherliker.co.uk