Unfair methods of competition

What is unfair competition?

Unfair competition falls under the area of law dealing with antitrust regulations. Unfair competition generally involves deceptive business practices that cause economic hardship to an individual, a group of individuals, or another business. Areas addressed in unfair competition legislation include fair competition, honesty in advertising and trademark protections. These cases are usually civil in nature, but may sometimes result in criminal charges.

Unfair competition laws may also define the circumstances under which damages may be recovered. Both consumers and competing businesses can claim damages.

Two main areas of unfair competition laws are unfair business practices and deliberate attempts to misrepresent a product. There may also be national laws and regulatory agencies that protect against unfair competition.

Practices that might fall under unfair competition laws include:

• trademark infringement
• false advertising
• selling products by using bait-and-switch techniques
• using similar packaging or a similar name in an attempt to confuse customers into thinking they are buying a different product
• misstating ingredients or appropriate product use
• badmouthing the quality of a competitor's product

What can I do?

If you feel you have a claim, our attorneys would like to talk to you. You may be entitled to compensation. Contact us today for a free, no-obligation legal consultation.