A causal link: there must be a causal link between the fault and the damage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\nProof can be provided by a bailiff’s report. Sanctions are of civil nature<\/b> and mainly consist of damages, the cessation of unfair acts and some accessory measures (destruction of equipment used for unfair acts, publication of the court decision, etc.). <\/span>
The unfair competition practices are mainly the following: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n\n- Imitation<\/b>: the use of the same distinctive signs as a competing company, creating confusion.<\/li>\n
- Free riding<\/b> (parasitism): taking advantage of a competitor’s efforts and know-how without contributing to those efforts (not necessarily necessitating a competitive relationship).<\/li>\n
- Smear campaign<\/b> (denigration): openly and publicly criticising a competitor’s work, methods, or products, while clearly identifying the company.<\/li>\n
- Disruption<\/b> (disorganisation): this can be of many forms, but mostly involves the mass and abusive hiring of employees or the disclosure of company secrets (such as manufacturing secrets).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
<\/div>\n
In the context of the defence of a concept, the three notions that will attract attention are imitation, disruption, and free riding.<\/span>
A direct competitor who imitates the advertisement, distinctive signs, or products and services of a company, thus creating a real risk of confusion, could be sanctioned (Cass. Com., 9 July 2013, n\u00b0 12-22.166).<\/span>
Also, disruption could be punished if, for example, a former employee, manager, or partner discloses a concept that was still a secret (Paris, 22 May 1990, D. 1990, IR p.175). <\/span>
Above all, the behaviour of a competitor who follows in the footsteps of another to take advantage of his\/her reputation, efforts, and investments, without expenditure (C. Cass., Ch. Com., 26 January 1999, appeal no. 96-22.457), could be sanctioned. Thus, the Paris Commercial Court was able to judge that a protectable concept \u00ab\u00a0constitutes an economic value, individualised and providing a competitive advantage, the result of know-how, intellectual work and investments\u00a0\u00bb<\/i> (T. Com. Paris, 28 September 2015, n\u00b02014-027464, Sound Strategy v. Concepson; confirmed on appeal: CA Paris, 7 March 2017, n\u00b015\/22802). It is the result of an investment, which may be promotional, economic, intellectual, or even the result of notoriety. <\/span>
It has been recognised by judges that an idea, endowed with uniqueness acquired through investment and which the wrongdoer has misappropriated, is protectable by an action for parasitism (free riding) as an original concept (CA Paris, P\u00f4le 5, ch. 4, 7 Oct. 2015, n\u00b0 10\/11257). This has also been recognised in the case of undue appropriation of a work, research, or know-how (Cass. com., 24 Nov. 2015, n\u00b0 14-16.806, Civ. 1re, 22 June 2017, n\u00b0 14-20.310, CA Paris, P\u00f4le 5, ch. 2, 15 Apr. 2016, n\u00b0 12\/072530).<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"In the context of an economic concept with high added value, it is sometimes necessary to share it with economic partners, suppliers or associates. Unfair competition law is therefore fundamental, as it can provide a defence against undue 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