电子商务平台MFN条款的反垄断法分析

近年来在电子商务平台领域,围绕MFN条款产生的垄断行为逐渐引起各国反垄断机构的关注,已经涌现出如“苹果电子书案”“亚马逊电子书案”“在线酒店预订(OTA)案”等典型案例。由于MFN条款具有促进竞争和限制竞争的双重效果,各国在规制MFN条款垄断行为过程中面临着适用原则选择、违法性认定依据选择和责任追究等多重分歧和困境。在市场高度集中、信息高度透明的电子商务平台领域,涉MFN条款的垄断行为可能更易达成,危害性也可能更为严重。我国有必要借鉴域外经验,形成对涉MFN条款垄断行为的违法性认定标准体系和追责机制,防范和减轻MFN条款引起的限制竞争效果。

The Anti-monopoly Law Analysis of MFN Terms in E-commerce Platforms

In the field of e-commerce platforms in recent years,the monopolistic behaviors related the most-favored nation treatment clauses have gradually attracted the attention of anti-monopoly agencies in many countries.At present,there have been some typical cases such as“Apple e-book case”and“Amazon e-book case”and“the online hotel reservation(OTA)case”.In the process of regulating such kind of monopolistic behaviors,many countries are facing differences and dilemmas in several aspects such as the choice of applicable principles,the basis for the determination of illegality and the accountability,for the reason that the MFN clause has the dual effect of promoting competition and restricting competition.In the field of e-commerce platforms with high market concentration and high-level transparent information,the monopolistic behaviors related MFN clauses may be easier to achieve and the results may be more serious.In order to prevent and mitigate the effect of restricting competition caused by MFN clauses,it is necessary for China to get rid of the rigid constraints of unsuitability as well as to form a standard system for the illegal determination of MFN clauses and the accountability system by referring to extraterritorial experiences.