By Yasmine EDDAM
24 June 2025
While competition law often focuses on the actions of a single hegemonic company, there is another form of market power that is more complex to grasp: collective dominance. This situation arises when several companies, although legally independent, are able to adopt a common course of action and ignore the rules of competition. For managers of SMEs or entrepreneurs operating in concentrated sectors (oligopolies), understanding this concept is fundamental. The risk is not only of being abused, but also of being accused of participating in such a collective position. Determining whether a group of undertakings holds such a position is a delicate exercise which, as with the concept of abuse of an individual dominant position, requires prior analysis of the relevant market. Given the complexity of these mechanisms, the assistance of a lawyer specialising in competition law is often required...
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