NCJ Number
60732
Date Published
1975
Length
740 pages
Annotation
THE WEST GERMAN JUSTICE DEPARTMENT PRESENTS THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE EIGHTH WORKSHOP OF THE COMMISSION OF EXPERTS FOR THE REPRESSION OF ECONOMIC CRIME.
Abstract
THE EIGHTH WORKSHOP--HELD FROM NOVEMBER 25 TO NOVEMBER 29, 1974, IN BAD AACHEN, WEST GERMANY--BROUGHT TOGETHER LEGAL AND ECONOMIC EXPERTS, MEMBERS OF PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND HIGHRANKING GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FOR THE DISCUSSION OF TWO MAIN SECTORS OF ECONOMIC CRIME: UNFAIR COMPETITION AND ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS. THE COMMISSION SUGGESTED REFORMS TO REMEDY THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS. FIRST, DESPITE NUMEROUS OFFENSES AND INJUNCTIONS, FEW VIOLATIONS OF COMPETITION LAWS ARE ACTUALLY BROUGHT TO TRIAL, AND EVEN FEWER LEAD TO A CONVICTION. SECOND, CONSUMER ASSOCIATIONS ARE INACTIVE AND OF NEGLIGIBLE INFLUENCE IN THAT FIELD. THRID, DUE TO PERSONNEL SHORTAGE, THE FEDERAL COMMISSION FOR ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS IS UNABLE TO CONTROL NONCOMPETITION AGREEMENTS BETWEEN MAJOR CORPORATIONS. FOURTH, EXISTING ANTITRUST LEGISLATION HAS CONSIDERABLE LOOPHOLES, ESPECIALLY WITH REGARD TO FINES. THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE SUBCOMMITTEES ARE REPRINTED THAT CONCERN SUCH TOPICS AS FRAUDULENT ADVERTISING AND THE MEANS TO COMBAT IT OR THE PROSPECT OF DECLARING SPECIFIC ANTITRUST VIOLATIONS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. THE COMMISSION THEN DRAFTED A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS CONCERNING THE REFORM OF COMPETITION AND ANTITRUST LEGISLATION WHICH WILL BE TREATED AT THREE WORKSHOPS. APPENDED ARE NUMEROUS OPINIONS AND PAPERS PRESENTED BY ECONOMIC AND LEGAL EXPERTS, BY THE PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS, AND BY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, AS WELL AS A CRITICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY REPRESENTING THE STATE OF THE ART IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF GERMANY. --IN GERMAN. (SAJ)