Communication

The aim of the protection of market competition is primarily to create benefits for consumers and equal conditions for all entrepreneurs on the market, who, acting in accordance with the existing rules and competing on the market with the quality, price and innovation of their products and services, contribute to the overall development of the economy.

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Croatian Taekwondo Federation did not abuse dominant position

The Croatian Competition Agency (CCA) found that the latter that was sent by the Croatian Taekwondo Federation (CTF) to all its members including the complainant – the undertaking LMK, potentially limited access only to a smaller part of the relevant market relating to qualifying tournaments organized by taekwondo clubs. The CTF letter did not have any effect whatsoever on other tournaments given the fact that the undertaking LMK continued to participated in them.

Furthermore, the comments received by the CCA from other taekwondo clubs indicated that for various reasons the majority of the clubs did not comply with the request contained in the latter sent by the CTF.

In addition, it is important that the CCA review of the taekwondo tournaments in which LMK rented its electronic gear showed that LMK had rented its electronic gear only in one tournament before the challenged letter was sent by the CTF in February 2017. Given the limited presence of LMK in the part of the market concerned even before the letter was sent, it was not conclusive that the letter itself lead to the foreclosure in this market segment.

The CCA also took into account the fact that in May 2018 CTF informed its members – taekwondo clubs on its website that LMK settled all its debts toward CTF alerting the members that they can do business with LMK at their own risk. By doing so CTF significantly lessened the negative effect on the decision about the selection of the business partner by any member in the organization of taekwondo tournaments.

Taking everything into account, the CCA found that CTF did not distort competition by abusing its dominant position in the organization of taekwondo tournaments in Croatia.