281 / 482
GAZETTE
SEPTEMBER
1989
petroleum-based motor vehicle
fuels and other fuels for resale in
the servicé station. The follow-
ing obligations are permitted to
purchase such fuels only from
the supplier, not to use
lubricants supplied by a third
party if the supplier has made
available or financed lubrication
plant or equipment, to advertise
and to permit the supplier to
service equipment supplied or
financed by it. The exemption is
not available where the agree-
ment restricts the purchase of
items other than fuels or the
reseller's freedom to obtain
other goods or applies for a
period of more than 10 years or
the period of occupation where
the station is let to the reseller
by the supplier:
The Commission has the right
to withdraw the exemption if an
agreement is found to have
effects incompatible with Article
85(1) of the Treaty of Rome.
The Regulation expires on 31
December 1997.
3.
Specialisation Agraemants
Regulation 417/85 applies a
block exemption to certain
categories of specialisation
agreement between a defined
class of undertaking which
provide reciprocal obligations
either not to manufacture certain
products or to manufacture
certain products. The Regulation
took effect on 1st March, 1985
and replaces
Regulations
2779 / 72 and 3604 / 82. No
restrictions on competition may
be included other than an
obligation not to conclude
specialisation agreements with
third parties in respect of similar
products, to procure products
exclusively from another party or
to grant third parties the
exclusive right to distribute the
products subject to the special-
isation agreement. Such agree-
ments may impose an obligation
to supply third parties with pro-
ducts, maintain minimum stocks
and provide customer and
guarantee services. The parties
must observe defined turnover
figures and the products must
not account for more than 20%
of the market for such products
in the Community.
The Regulation expires on 31
December, 1997.
4.
Research and Development
Agreements
Regulation 418/85 applies a
block exemption to certain
categories of research and
development agreements which
promote technical and economic
progress and increase the
availability of technical know-
ledge and avoid duplication of
research and development work.
The work must be carried out
within a defined framework and
all parties to the agreement must
have access to it. Article 3 sets
out detailed provisions as to the
permitted duration of such
agreements and Articles 4 and 5
set out permitted restrictions or
competition and other obliga-
tions be tween the parties
themselves and third parties.
The exemption does not apply
where the parties are restricted
in their freedom to carry out
R + D independently or jointly
with third parties in relation to
unconnected fields of activity,
are prohibited from challenging
* * *
* * *
Year 2 —
as the Irish Centre for European Law pursues another busy schedule
of conferences, meetings and publications with the support of its 475
Corporate, Individual and Associate Members.
Is Your Firm:
•
ON TOP OF EUROPEAN LAW DEVELOPMENTS?
•
KEEPING IN TOUCH?
•
MEANING TOGET AROUND TO IT SOMETIME?
•
UNAFFECTED BY 1992?
•
BLISSFULLY UNAWARE?
For details of conferences, publications and membership contact:
NICHOLAS K. ROBINSON, Solicitor, Administrator, Irish Centre for European Law,
Trinity College, Dublin 2. Tel: 772941
259