Discusses the legal requirements/options for joint venture/licensing in this market.
Last Published: 8/29/2019

Dealing with joint ventures ranks among the most difficult jobs under German competition law. In Germany, joint venture legislation falls under the purview of the Federal Cartel Office (Bundeskartellamt) The law requires that a joint venture must exercise “genuine entrepreneurial” activities. Under German law, this means:

  • Organizations which merely carry out auxiliary functions such as purchasing or distribution on behalf of the parents are not considered joint ventures; and
  • JVs must have at their disposal sufficient assets and personnel to carry out their activities.

The Bundeskartellamt is required to prohibit a merger if it is, "expected to create or strengthen a dominant position.” Market dominance is defined as an undertaking which either has no competitors or is not exposed to any substantial competition or has a paramount market position in relation to its competitors.
Licensing
German antitrust law does not, in the absence of a dominant market position, restrict the owner’s freedom to use her/his industrial property rights, including the exploitation of a patented innovation.

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