commiss decis juli relat proceed articl eec treati case iv iv quantel intern continuum quantel sa english french text authent eec commiss european commun regard treati establish european econom commun regard council regul februari regul implement articl treati amend act access spain portug articl thereof regard applic submit juli quantel intern hereinaft call qli continuum hereinaft call qli request commiss find pursuant articl regul quantel sa hereinaft call qsa infring articl treati regard notif submit commiss qsa octob regard decis commiss juli initi proceed case undertak concern qsa opportun make view object rais commiss accord articl regul commiss regul eec juli hear provid articl council regul consult advisori committe restrict practic domin posit fact complaint notif juli commiss receiv complaint qli refus parent qsa access commun market laser product qsa base behaviour share transfer agreement accompani protocol juli qli alleg breach articl treati receipt letter date august commiss outlin preliminari object agreement subject complaint qsa octob submit notif agreement accompani declar effect intent limit claim territori protect period year time product put market order compli requir commiss regul eec amend act access spain portug seek appli agreement question commiss inform qsa letter date april agreement question fall scope block exempt provid regul eec qsa avail opposit procedur provid articl regul letter subject appeal court instanc join case juli commiss decid initi proceed statement object qsa april commiss set argument favour withdraw abovement block exempt articl regul eec april qsa qli termin abovement protocol settlement agreement commiss inform june judici proceed proceed nation author qli lodg complaint qsa commiss french competit author conseil de la concurr seiz matter statement object qsa august decid novemb suspend judgment part qsa brought action german french swiss court seek injunct prevent qli sell countri germani qsa serv part injunct optila gmbh trade fair munich june enjoin optila gmbh qli distributor qli offer sell laser product quantel intern germani judg hear action preliminari view territori alloc provis agreement valid bind qli order quash munich court appeal qsa withdrawn suit franc qsa appli corbeil essonn commerci court adopt interim measur qli view prevent canvass sale market europ franc solid state dye laser scientif medic industri applic qli applic dismiss june qsa appeal judgment octob pari court appeal fourteenth chamber revers decis lower court order qli optila ceas canvass sale market franc solid state dye laser scientif medic industri applic judgment final overturn court cassat march ground agreement brought territori alloc market compani result restrict competit commun law domest law commiss european commun french conseil de la concurr seiz restrict natur render agreement null void final switzerland qli prohibit enter swiss market ground unfair competit parti qsa qsa le uli franc undertak manufactur laser scientif research purpos found scientist dr georg bret qsa research section product facil member french defenc aerospac group aerospatial qsa turnov ff million ecu million time agreement qsa own société français equip de navig aérienn sfena turnov ff million ecu million sfena turn control aerospatial composit sfena ownership siela crouzet aerospatial bank individu aerospatial held siela crouzet aerospatial held control sfena held control qsa control reflect qsa board director compos member aerospatial sfena repres turnov aerospatial group ecu billion aerospatial acquir full ownership qsa wholli own subsidiari unila qli qli qli santa clara california subsidiari qsa engag product activ similar parent qsa qli laser american space agenc nasa track posit fix satellit qli hoya corpor japanes compani special optic optic fibr laser turnov qli million ecu million market characterist laser product subject matter case abil emit remark quantiti light energi extraordinarili short time nanosecond billionth fraction picosecond millionth millionth scientif research area linear optic plasma physic measur ultra short time precis measur great distanc categori product defin laser medium pump mode user applic constitut relev market purpos proceed product substitut order defin relev market analys major classif laser medium solid state dye ga pump mode continu puls user applic scientif medic industri defenc laser medium laser focus medium includ princip solid state laser pass crystal compound call yttrium aluminium garnet yag dye ga medium excim argon laser categori laser medium substitut laser categori margin case discuss excim pump mode bu categori exist continu pump puls pump nb puls pump confus emiss puls light continu pump solid state laser substitut puls pump solid state laser qsa qli limit sale puls pump yag laser dye laser puls pump yag emit power short puls light laser manufactur qli qsa puls pump type emit short puls gener high power experi requir precis time measur order billionth high power high speed power criteria limit continu pump laser defin specif rang applic user applic user applic includ scientif refer amp medic industri defenc applic laser amp substitut laser medic industri defenc applic qsa qli sell scientif amp market relev market market puls pump yag dye laser high power short puls scientif research categori scientif amp applic refin made depend light emiss produc short puls long puls continu wavelength produc light wavelength characterist requir perform specif scientif requir determin choic laser instrument instanc categori ga medium laser excim exist pump dye laser produc easili rang ultraviolet visibl wavelength circumst compet yag pump dye laser excim laser pump dye laser substitut yag laser pump dye laser narrow rang applic vast major excim applic narrow dye pump applic proof lack substitut continu puls yag excim demonstr technolog respect yag laser excim laser categori oper puls mode yag laser produc infrar beam short puls excim laser produc ultraviolet beam longer puls scientif circl potenti user laser scientif amp purpos grant puls region light spectrum infrar ultraviolet complet purpos interact matter complet instanc infrar beam short puls infrar spectroscopi atmospher sound lidar light radar photochemistri laser induc fluoresc call ultraviolet beam longer puls continu laser puls laser continu laser deliv steadi averag power puls laser deliv high peak power averag order magnitud peak power puls laser million time greater continu laser attain billion applic radic instanc amp experi spectroscopi requir continu dye laser experi photochemistri requir puls laser product unit product categori laser requir specif fabric equip specif expertis product unit manufactur categori laser yag laser excim laser coher radiat largest american laser manufactur strong line yag laser scientif applic acquir lambda physic german compani largest manufactur excim laser product unit remain separ yag unit unit state excim unit germani distributor laser manufactur customarili arrang distributor repres compet product line distributor commun repres solid state yag product line compani excim product line compani perfect agreement separ manufactur exampl optila bv coher gmp db electron coher physik overlap competit product line distributor habitu repres basi consider relev market case defin puls solid state dye laser scientif research posit parti market european market commerci laser research develop account special press world market market puls solid state dye laser account total laser sale scientif applic field approxim million ecu million qsa sale market exclud sale research divis result order million ecu million give market share qli present neglig sale commun access commun market ow qsa enforc agreement issu complaint agreement origin agreement qsa subsidiari sfena member french group aerospatial requir sell subsidiari founder qsa dr bret form compani call laser advanc vehicl investor assembl purchas qli purchas complet laser advanc merg quantel intern qli capit qli increas admit sharehold french bank pariba french invest compani scribe suez banexi purchas qli effect share transfer agreement juli price paid share million accompani share transfer agreement protocol date juli lai arrang futur product sale compani disput aris term protocol word protocol conclud result transfer control qli pre exist relationship qsa qli cover commerci aspect compani sale price term payment system qli order good qsa contain industri section parti agre measur technolog transfer envisag common develop product develop time sale categori product cover agreement develop time agreement datachrom dye laser acknowledg financ develop qsa qli free licenc territori long puls solid state laser develop transfer qli free licenc qsa picochrom laser compon develop qsa develop qli complet parti access technolog product articl laid divis market worldwid european market reserv qsa protocol contain provis prohibit qli develop lifetim agreement defin area applic waveguid laser gyrolas militari aeronaut space sector variabl curvatur optic articl protocol refer possibl laser product specif cover object common develop separ agreement drawn articl iv agreement conclud agreement initi period end decemb possibl renew mutual agreement period year articl provid specif provis includ articl alloc territori continu appli clear word intent carri provis durat prolong arrang surviv expir agreement qli gave notic qsa expir initi period agreement approach intend renew wish penetr european market renegoti arrang agre european market partial open qli sell qsa network distributor french market qsa sole distributor qli franc period year januari act arrang qli enter distribut agreement germani netherland unit kingdom itali march qsa wrote qli repudi renegoti agreement invok articl origin protocol overlook fact territori alloc provis fact surviv expir agreement subsequ approach european distributor warn distribut qli product commun claim exclus ownership trademark logo claim strenuous resist qli subject separ litig qli counter claim qsa action constitut unfair competit amount break contractu relat assert articl protocol case infring articl eec treati duli complain commiss french competit author qsa brought action french german court seek injunct prevent qli sell countri recit respons complaint lodg qli commiss transmit comment qsa maintain agreement fall articl minor import mean notic agreement minor import altern exempt articl doctrin establish case remia virtu essenc agreement research develop capabl obtain benefit block exempt regul eec letter date august commiss inform qsa preliminari view agreement juli reli qsa prevent competit qli infring articl turnov limit notic agreement minor import exceed qualifi exempt articl remia doctrin appli inter alia agreement notifi regul eec appli agreement agreement primari object cooper research develop notifi agreement octob receipt letter qsa submit notif agreement accompani explanatori note declar intent limit claim territori protect protocol period year time product put market common market order compli requir regul eec acknowledg delai final develop product part product qsa respons delai alleg partli due qli failur transfer technolog accord protocol qsa laid start date year protect run estim posit put product commun market time period protect claim product market qsa actual forecast protect run year datachrom juli juli solid state laser modul decemb decemb long puls solid state laser juli juli picosecond decemb decemb notif qsa claim benefit applic opposit procedur laid articl regul eec commiss remain silent month date notif mean oppos exempt indic agreement claus justifi letter date april commiss servic inform qsa agreement prima faci satisfi test regul eec qualifi applic opposit procedur letter subject appeal qsa court instanc join case recit ii legal assess articl geograph divis market articl prohibit agreement undertak object effect prevent restrict distort competit common market qsa qli undertak mean articl agreement protocol juli reli qsa object effect perman depriv european consum access qli laser commun market restrict competit contrari articl geograph divis market countri unit state commun capabl affect trade member state product prevent enter common market distribut member state case emi record cb distort competit repres infring articl specif market contribut technolog commerci isol common market countri prevent qli manufactur market product articl protocol share market parti contrari word articl suppos degre territori protect justifi limit period sale qli laser advanc period evalu light circumst individu case year present case restrict ow excess durat consid ensur transfer undertak sold case remia protect justifi context transfer undertak aim commiss court prevent vendor detail knowledg transfer undertak posit win back custom immedi transfer drive undertak busi remia paragraph consider appli present case agreement question design protect vendor purchas appreci effect competit agreement protocol cover commiss notic septemb agreement minor import fall articl notic state agreement deem fall prohibit articl particip undertak combin market share aggreg turnov ecu million turnov question includ undertak control interest parti agreement undertak control parti market share ceil exceed qsa market share aggreg turnov case exce ecu million turnov control parent sfena control parent aerospatial account annual turnov region ecu billion contrari qsa submiss notif repli statement object agreement effect competit appreci regul eec qsa claim commiss replai transmiss complaint lodg qli notif repli statement object agreement protocol juli consid research develop agreement capabl benefit block exempt provid respect agreement regul eec claim accept reason regul eec appli agreement enter undertak purpos joint research develop product process joint exploit result research develop articl specif purpos agreement protocol implement amp programm undertak clear read share transfer agreement accompani protocol juli recit purpos agreement transfer busi joint develop provis pure ancillari sale product cover joint develop provis datachrom dye laser long puls solid state laser picochrom dye laser vari stage develop parti time sale normal provid develop product finish wai provid parti pre exist relationship sale regard product recit articl iv protocol state object common develop case specif agreement sign qli qsa agreement notifi commiss protocol equat joint research develop agreement articl regul eec lai condit exempt joint research develop work carri framework programm defin object work field carri purpos regul encourag activ allow condit cost benefit share achiev case increas research develop effort combin resourc parti common end agreement confin determin share benefit work thenceforth carri independ parti term agreement intent joint develop determin condit separ distinct undertak share benefit work agreement exempt claus prohibit regul articl claus agreement juli fall categori place regul eec permit territori restrict claus limit year case territori divis claus initi interpret qsa unlimit durat letter august unilater modifi limit durat place agreement contain field restrict competitor recit ban passiv competit part qli contrari qsa submiss repli statement object prohibit articl regul articl notif made qsa agreement notifi commiss octob year forc commiss inform qsa unfavour light view notif belat confer immun fine respect period subsequ notif articl regul consid fine impos respect period prior notif notif qsa agreement capabl chang commiss legal assess thereof articl regul fine impos respect act take place date signatur agreement juli date notif commiss octob present case product concern protocol annex thereto market time notif develop delai parti recit agreement limit effect trade product agreement incompat articl word court justic join case consten grundig commiss improv product distribut good requir grant individu exempt identifi advantag parti agreement obtain product distribut activ content concept improv requir depend special featur contractu relationship question improv show appreci object advantag charact compens disadvantag field competit commiss point qsa demonstr advantag fact notif repli statement object qsa develop argument line commiss object factor enabl evalu agreement effect refer object ascertain improv product distribut good compens disadvantag caus restrict competit restrict competit result applic articl propos constitut barrier market entri econom oper effect exclud qli substanti part common market consider length time distort competit compens technic econom benefit deriv agreement parti develop manufactur market product concern articl protocol expressli market share fact fulli logic commerci separ compani fact qsa declar limit durat provis year resolv difficulti rais provis absolut share market articl regul eec inspir year period consider limit allow oblig pursu activ market polici respect product result agreement event joint research develop question notif agreement modifi unilater qsa make regard agreement protocol juli fulfil condit laid articl eec treati individu exempt qsa reduc term territori protect indefinit period period year date product put market commiss note length term protect product claim qsa notif tantamount grant territori protect qli total term depend product half year date sale undertak term longer term protect gener consid acquisit rule year recit court case law protect event contrari case protect seller purchas consid excess context articl articl regul pursuant articl regul commiss decis find infring provis articl oblig undertak associ undertak concern bring end notwithstand belat settlement agreement qsa qli approxim year send statement object render order ceas appli articl protocol superflu commiss consid adopt formal decis case decis parti termin agreement question commiss inform month delai complet entir administr procedur judgment octob case cementhandelaren commiss event order avoid occurr analog equival infring futur clarifi point law connect present case concern scope regul eec limit ancillari restrict competit admiss context deconcentr undertak affirm agreement object technolog commerci isol common market substanti part thereof countri caught articl elig exempt decis eec siemen fanuc adopt decis articl agreement protocol juli quantel intern quantel sa infring articl treati establish share market articl agreement protocol juli fall scope block exempt regul eec articl decis address quantel sa zone industriel de courtaboeuf bp le uli cedex continuum central expresswai usa santa clara california brussel juli commiss leon brittan vice presid oj oj oj oj ecr ecr ecr ecr oj