commiss decis octob relat proceed pursuant articl eec treati case iv continent michelin french german text authent eec commiss european commun regard treati establish european econom commun regard council regul februari regul implement articl eec treati amend act access spain portug articl thereof regard applic neg clearanc exempt file octob continent gummi werk ag hanov feder republ germani hereinaft refer quot continent compagni gener de etabliss michelin michelin cie clermont ferrand franc hereinaft refer quot michelin cooper agreement conclud novemb develop run flat tyre wheel system publish summari agreement notif accord articl regul consult advisori committe restrict practic domin posit fact procedur octob continent michelin notifi commiss cooper agreement enter novemb develop run flat tyre wheel system passeng car tyre pursuant articl regul appli neg clearanc altern exempt articl treati undertak concern continent gummi werk ag major tyre manufactur head offic situat hanov feder republ germani subsidiari commun continent acquir tyre manufactur european uniroy compani quot uniroy englebert head offic situat aachen feder republ germani herstal belgium clairoix franc group sharehold semperit reifen ag head offic situat vienna austria group sharehold gener tire head offic situat acron ohio usa group sharehold acquisit gener tire continent largest tyre manufactur world michelin group own parent compani compagni general de etabliss michelin michelin cie head offic situat clermont ferrand franc figur largest tyre manufactur world goodyear usa subsidiari commun group own kleber pneumatiqu kleber group sharehold product continent work develop tyre wheel system system contrast previou system tyre engag radial peripheri outer peripheri rim convent tyre system rht system tyre contrast present system grip rim hook radial project rim flang system revers hook tyre system rht system main advantag compar present system event punctur tyre press support surfac rim continu run flat side wall tyre touch road surfac case convent tyre contact side wall tyre flat road surfac friction side wall tyre quickli lead tyre destruct system driver continu drive hunderd kilometr reduc speed flat tyre develop potenti make dispens spare wheel parti claim construct tyre rim offer advantag compar tradit system includ reduc weight due dispens spare wheel room mount brake improv ride develop rht system present restrict passeng car tyre market tyre market worldwid cover small number supplier total sale account group firm michelin held posit world market continent fourth posit michelin estim share world market continent estim world market share european commun michelin includ kleber largest continent largest supplier michelin share commun market passeng car tyre estim continent share sale car tyre subdivid group sale motor vehicl industri fit car origin equip sale tyre trade replac worn tyre replac equip parti estim tyre sold initi equip replac tyre agreement notifi purpos cooper agreement initi stage assess rht system develop continent term characterist qualiti perform comparison current radial tyre normal roll condit flat assess success purpos agreement stage develop rht tyre basi tyre develop continent cooper custom accord joint system tyre size standard physic toler rht tyre establish parti agre unlimit exchang inform regard mount system architectur geometri tyre exchang inform limit case rim geomet definit case compon part physic characterist compound util case test test method result case manufactur method basic principl manufactur process tyre bead area inform principl exchang formula method refin compound util perfect rht inform provid parti unabl develop manufactur rht agreement notifi parti stage cooper comparison respect technic knowledg patent work divis labour basi develop rht system agreement conclud novemb larg number joint meet place regard develop rht system present stage cooper joint assess result agreement provis length cooper cooper continu complet rht year year rht market parti cooper subsequ automat renew addit period year termin parti furnish month prior written notic parti year conclus agreement result cooper period review order determin continu modifi termin parti decid termin cooper parti continu util patent parti termin cooper develop tyre run flat characterist parti offer revis agreement parti technolog incorpor extens scope cooper agreement extend includ develop rht categori tyre categori tyre time limit period cooper commenc date decis extend scope cooper relev decis suppos made april commiss receiv inform extens scope cooper joint exploit patent provid parti remain owner work product improv thereto made cooper result develop mutual conceiv idea respect research develop manag parti decid case case basi owner right deriv therefrom agreement set common entiti april countri agre common entiti set parti intend legal form examin parti hold equal interest common entiti decis mutual agreement research develop manag parti execut director common entiti defin agreement common entiti sole function exploit patent set task sole exclus agent patent long patent remain valid countri ensur collect distribut royalti paid parti patent defin agreement patent mean patent patent applic exist time agreement conclud futur patent patent applic relat cooper specif need manufactur sale rht countri oj oj publish version decis figur hereinaft omit pursuant provis articl regul disclosur busi secret defin agreement mean confidenti inform develop acquir disclos parti prior term agreement relat cooper specif need manufactur sale rht countri grant licenc common entiti grant licenc case worldwid exclus licenc cover patent result cooper grant parti decid undertak industri manufactur rht term agreement exclus licenc cover patent result cooper grant request parti consult parti tyre manufactur manufactur sale rht tyre similar licenc grant continent request current license parti grant abovement license inform technic assist cover agreement term condit parti manufactur agre case common entiti parti request act collect agent infring patent confidenti parti provid mutual assist action patent infring common entiti pai expens incur parti requir confidenti technic inform exchang affili period year expiri agreement parti benefit inform releas oblig confidenti establish prior knowledg thereof inform public knowledg public knowledg due act parti involv benefit parti commerci develop parti subject restrict decid market rht compon part system requir advis parti month advanc rht market parti coordin posit present rht offici author approv parti free choic motor vehicl manufactur condit present sell rht agre coordin technic present rht motor vehicl manufactur cooper commerci develop rht continu year year rht market parti parti submiss parti essenti put forward argument justifi cooper technic develop continent prototyp manufactur stage fact individu tyre manufactur introduc system rht system market motor vehicl industri strictli avoid depend singl tyre manufactur risk product brought standstil event disrupt suppli singl supplier industri concern sourc suppli argu great case rht motor vehicl industri adapt tyre wheel system construct car connect parti state offer licenc reason term interest competitor add purchas power motor vehicl industri great practic insist industri regard technic develop prototyp parti point problem aris system hook tyre rim addit construct rim involv find solut construct relat run characterist tyre make equal superior convent radial tyre parti cite area work exampl continu cooper align flat qualiti standard rht optim rim contour solut bead tyre regard contour structur method measur criteria assess tyre uniform wai perfect assess improv perform qualiti tyre normal roll condit flat standard tyre rim valv cover strip procedur mount tyre rim continu cooper justifi refer work carri jointli motor vehicl manufactur adapt vehicl partner tyre fact partner rht develop remain respons solv problem aris tyre enter dai dai regard larg number technic problem parti state doubt outset continent solv problem consider loss time cooper partner provid project impetu basi technic develop potenti lastli partner emphas cooper restrict area directli connect develop wheel tyre system remain competitor mean rht tyre ultim manufactur base system satisfi technic requir system differ term compound profil system relat structur current radial tyre make comment parti comment receiv parti respons summari notifi cooper agreement publish accord articl regul subsidiari goodyear fireston commun spoke market power enjoi continent michelin fear grant licenc belatedli fireston express concern suffer establish standard tyre system promptli inform view parti statement licenc fear groundless true michelin continent goodyear fireston import tyre manufactur member european tyre rim technic organ etrto base brussel etrto establish standard tyre rim valv continent notifi size tyre agreement member publish etrto standard manual ii legal assess articl agreement undertak continent michelin undertak mean articl cooper agreement agreement mean provis restrict competit agreement continent michelin preced cooper develop rht separ develop run flat tyre articl agreement read quot cooper termin parti accord articl due develop parti technolog prospect run flat characterist parti offer revis agreement parti technolog incorpor similar reason term michelin state group year work develop run flat tyre led system compet rht agreement extend includ system commiss conclud michelin time concentr joint develop rht system technic superior system work partner practic agre concentr develop rht abandon develop system involv restrict freedom action hand partner point cooper restrict develop rht system basi system market compet tyre trade mark show signific differ inport respect rubber mixtur profil width tread strength side wall commiss consid cooper limit rht system effect restrict competit motor vehicl industri restrict choic singl tyre wheel system partner strong market posit proceed separ motor vehicl industri select compet run flat tyre system consid suitabl joint exploit patent carri common entiti parti hold equal interest act sole exclus agent patent long patent remain valid countri articl decis mutual agreement common entiti set parti stick intent exclus commit common entiti parti lose freedom grant licenc independ parti remain true articl common entiti entitl request parti consult parti grant patent licenc manufactur sale rht tyre tyre manufactur emphas parti consult requir parti prevent grant licenc commiss assum common entiti work grant licenc parti practic base agreement parti joint exploit patent common entiti constitut restrict competit lastli distribut make rht competit continent michelin complet free market product initi stage section iv agreement parti undertaken advis parti month advanc decis market rht coordin posit present rht offici author motor vehicl manufactur provis agreement regard restrict competit requir provid mutual support action patent infring articl requir secret technic inform exchang affili effect trade member state time cooper parti extend includ type tyre relev product market market car tyre purpos decis commiss start assumpt convent radial tyre equival rht interchang rht system limit achiev genuin technolog progress set construct convent radial tyre offer develop possibl result advantag list fact point forese futur compet convent radial tyre motor vehicl manufactur decid respect model introduc system relev geograph market commun michelin lead tyre manufactur commun ahead continent submarket car tyre market share market share individu member state market share continent michelin car tyre countri continent group michelin group group feder republ germani belgium luxembourg denmark spain franc greec itali netherland portug unit kingdom ireland group account half market current car tyre feder republ germani belgium luxembourg denmark netherland spain franc michelin account half market expect market posit group strengthen rht system successfulli introduc continent michelin endeavour separ basi technic potenti jointli develop rht system discov type construct materi give make rht superior run characterist creat lead tyre manufactur catch anticip receiv licenc patent deriv cooper period conclus cooper agreement fall scope agreement tyre manufactur enter market fulli develop rht rht continent michelin group establish market accept motor vehicl purchas final consum extent express prefer mount tyre rht product chang tyre market lead enjoi work advantag continent michelin assum pattern sale tyre appreci alter favour group agreement liabl affect trade member state articl commiss regul eec decemb applic articl categori research develop agreement provis articl declar inapplic categori agreement subject condit regul articl regul block exempt appli cooper agreement continent michelin car tyre manufactur parti agreement account car tyre manufactur common market commiss examin agreement grant exempt individu decis decis account criteria articl world competit circumst prevail manufactur high technolog product recit regul eec examin cooper agreement articl produc result improv product good promot technic progress disput joint research permiss partner strong market posit view late notif agreement year entri forc fact time agreement conclud continent develop tyre wheel system commiss joint individu research parti convinc commiss point basi continent prototyp joint research develop made tyre wheel system industri manufactur work requir work relat improv run characterist rht gener convent tyre safeti run flat inspect procedur mass product tyre develop improv product facil tyre equip product tyre mainten joint measur involv introduct rht system motor vehicl manufactur system requir construct motor vehicl parti justifi cooper ground continent solv numer technic problem involv consider delai time commiss leav open question argument valid econom point view contact parti basi exampl explan reach convict cooper michelin substanti enrich project rim industri mass product select joint research develop commiss deni advantag safeti rht deriv practic test system parti cooper shown lastli argument put forward parti produc introduc tyre system motor vehicl industri motor vehicl manufactur collabor tyre produc avoid suppli bottl neck system accept motor vehicl industri accept depend motor vehicl manufactur adapt system construct car result continent develop rht grant licenc michelin fact continent lost advantag cooper introduct rht motor vehicl manufactur license circumst involv case object made fact effect competit continent prefer cooper michelin grant licenc design rht overcom limit inher convent radial tyre offer advantag achiev system cooper develop contribut improv product good promot technic progress consum share advantag result agreement introduct run flat tyre interest consum tyre room brake system handl characterist road surfac qualiti rht system consider increas person safeti individu car driver avoid traffic accid privat public interest continent cooper michelin ensur introduct fulli develop product group repres tyre brand wide system prospect establish gener motor vehicl market year indispens agreement attain object parti justifi length cooper research develop year year rht market automat renew addit period year agreement termin furnish month prior notic fact problem aris daili year solv jointli interest road safeti length cooper respect commerci introduct rht market origin period joint research develop negoti commiss parti time reduc period year introduct rht market cooper involv establish standard provis renew cooper intend parti ensur parti gain competit advantag exercis unilater influenc standard parti explain requir partner inform month introduct rht market reflect desir surpris introduct assess length cooper technic commerci area account fact articl regul eec limit exempt cooper compet undertak competitor combin market share durat research develop programm result jointli exploit initi period year time contract product put market common market case competitor strong market posit cooper larger impact competit restrict strictli period essenti implement programm commiss consid set length cooper commerci introduct rht year line principl commiss consid length cooper provid regard research develop reach view account fact dai dai rht problem aris solv jointli produc liabil interest gener road safeti commiss consider fact agreement cooper restrict area directli connect develop rht system continent michelin remain competitor allow accept automat renew cooper agreement possibl termin give prior notic assum continent michelin limit joint develop rht period absolut commerci interest market rht competit light interest partner allow minimum coordin requir initi stage market establish uniform standard interest consum attempt lai start condit ensur develop work reward commiss consid length cooper area provid complement jointli pursu research develop joint exploit patent common entiti essenti exploit includ exploit patent exist agreement conclud definit agreement involv technic knowledg connect cooper need manufactur sale rht countri restrict fall framework block exempt joint exploit regul eec individu exempt decis directli base definit basic concept involv concern defin articl exploit result mean quot manufactur contract product applic contract process assign licens intellectu properti right commun requir manufactur applic articl exempt provid articl appli condit joint exploit relat result decis manufactur contract product applic contract process state seventh recit individu form joint exploit relat product process result research develop decis formul exclud joint exploit technic knowledg exist cooper began argu parti compon part joint develop extent manufactur sale rht technic knowledg part contract process contract product mean definit articl regul eec commiss examin life span common entiti long patent valid countri procedur licens parti grant licenc common entiti request parti consult parti indispens attain object cooper life span common entiti extend automat time patent aris cooper includ common entiti dissolv annual arrang run counter commiss consid automat exempt block exempt regul provis articl regul eec joint exploit undertak competit exempt period year contract product substitut account market product continent michelin present market share area patent licens agreement commiss oppos automat extens durat licens agreement patent licensor includ articl commiss regul eec juli applic articl treati categori patent licens agreement hand common entiti deal handl award patent licenc involv case administr bodi term refer common entiti deal aspect exploit result defin articl regul eec licens intellectu properti right commun coordin grant licenc respect technic knowledg manufactur rht mean simplif administr procedur license ensur correct distribut parti royalti aris agreement contrast joint manufactur contract product parti agreement form exploit econom correl exempt joint research develop appear grant longer exempt common entiti lack exclus competit agreement basi afford possibl elimin competit respect substanti part product question place agreement parti competit elimin respect system respect construct featur rht rht tyre produc michelin competit produc continent parti remain unrestrict competit convent radial tyre lastli competit continu exist tyre manufactur competit continu convent rht tyre parti offer licenc interest competitor reason term earli stage rht tyre replac convent system event partner competitor member etrto particip establish standard tyre rim valv articl regul articl regul decis applic articl treati issu period condit oblig attach thereto period valid exempt period valid exempt base durat form cooper continent michelin dealt decis determin relev period refer made dai rht market basi inform commiss assum januari exempt cover car tyre appear grant exempt articl regul appli dai notif octob run januari period year decemb cooper research develop period year decemb cooper regard commerci develop section iv agreement period year decemb activ common entiti extens cooper parti extend cooper tyre categori commiss stage comment extens assess base market situat technic circumst depend tyre categori cooper extend decis includ oblig pursuant articl parti delai inform commiss extens cooper view import market partner commiss consid impos report requir set articl decis adopt decis articl pursuant articl eec treati provis articl appli period cooper agreement develop run flat tyre wheel system conclud continent michelin novemb exempt restrict car tyre octob decemb case cooper research develop octob decemb case cooprat regard commerci develop iv agreement octob decemb case activ common entiti articl continent michelin inform commiss delai extens cooper tyre categori instanc licenc grant refus parti year begin decemb evolut present cooper oblig remain forc durat exempt grant respect common entiti decemb articl decis address continent gummi werk ag konigsworth platz hanov compani general de etabliss michelin place de carm dechaux clermont ferrand cedex brussel octob commiss peter sutherland member commiss oj commiss decis eec henkel colgat oj oj