Selective distribution systems and online platform bans

Abstract: The Internet has over the past years significantly changed the way in which goods and services are distributed. E-commerce has made it possible for businesses to advertise and sell their goods to a wider range of consumers. In particular third-party online platforms, such as Ebay and Amazon, have become important sales channels that offer intense intra-brand and inter-brand competition and increased price transparency. However, manufacturers of quality brands have argued that online marketplaces constitute an inadequate selling environment, and fear a decline in the value of their products and a loss in their image. The aim of this thesis is to examine the question concerning restrictions for authorized retailers in a selective distribution system to use non-authorized third-party platforms.