Abuse of a dominant position

Abuse of exploitation: when the dominant company imposes unfair conditions
By Yasmine EDDAM
4 May 2025
Abuse of a dominant position, Commercial, business and competition law
A company in a dominant position has the economic power to act independently of its competitors and customers. While this position is not prohibited per se, competition law punishes its abusive exploitation, particularly when it leads to the imposition of unfair trading conditions. These practices, which receive less media coverage than exclusionary abuses aimed at eliminating competitors, are no less harmful to the market and consumers. What is exploitative abuse? Dominant companies enjoy market power that gives them a structural advantage. Competition law ensures that this power is not used to impose unfair conditions on trading partners. Definition: obtaining undue advantages through a dominant position Exploitative abuse is characterised by the use of a dominant position to obtain commercial advantages that a company would not have been able to impose in a context of effective competition. Like...