San Diego Unfair Competition Lawyer

Unfair Competition Laws

Laws on unfair competition are intended to protect companies while establishing an equitable, competitive market. They are generally governed by state common law, but federal statutes such as the Federal Trade Commission Act and antitrust laws also play an important role. The FTC Act, for example, prohibits "unfair methods of competition" and "unfair or deceptive acts or practices."

Other unfair competition laws include:

• The Sherman Antitrust Act of 1890 is a federal law enacted to prevent monopolistic business practices and promote economic liberty. It prohibits activities that restrict interstate commerce and competition in the marketplace, aiming to preserve free and unfettered competition as a rule of trade.
• The Clayton Antitrust Act of 1914 is aimed at strengthening the Sherman Act by further defining unethical business practices. It targets specific anti-competitive actions like price discrimination, tying contracts, and unlawful corporate mergers or acquisitions. This Act bolsters competition and curbs monopolies

State laws also safeguard nearly all information that offers businesses an advantage over other businesses in the same industry:

• The Cartwright Act is California's primary state antitrust law, enacted in 1907. It prohibits anti-competitive activities, mirroring federal antitrust laws. The Act declares certain trusts as unlawful, aiming to preserve competition. It specifically targets combinations of capital, skill, or acts by two or more persons that restrict fair trade.
• The California Uniform Trade Secrets Act (UTSA) provides a legal framework for the protection of trade secrets. It prohibits misappropriation of confidential business information, including theft, bribery, misrepresentation, breach, or inducement of a breach of a duty to maintain secrecy.
• The California Unfair Competition Law (UCL), codified in Business & Professions Code section 17000, outlaws deceptive or misleading advertising as well as unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business practices.

Antitrust laws prevent businesses from engaging in practices that restrict fair trade and competition. Additionally, laws like the Uniform Deceptive Trade Practices Act (UDTPA) exist to protect businesses and consumers from deceptive business practices. These laws collectively ensure that businesses can compete fairly, without fear of deception or wrongful practices impeding their economic success.

Business Practices That Qualify as Unfair Competition

Business and competition go hand-in-hand, but that doesn’t mean an organization can resort to unfair business practices. A competitor’s deceptive or wrongful acts can result in monumental damage to your business. Fortunately, there are federal and state laws designed to protect the creative, intellectual and economic investments made by a business in distinguishing themselves and their products. Below we’ll discuss examples of unfair competition and how you can protect yourself.

Unfair competition is an umbrella term for several different types of economic torts. Examples of unfair competition include:

• Trademark infringement is the unauthorized use of a trademark or service mark on or in connection with goods or services that is likely to cause confusion about their source.
• Unauthorized substitution of one brand of goods for another is also known as “bait and switch,” in which a seller uses trademarked images on their products for financial gain.
• Misappropriation of trade secrets includes stealing a competitor’s secrets and using them for financial gain.
• False representation of products or services is when someone makes any materially misleading product warranty or guarantee.
• False advertising can include exaggerated claims or straight up lies about a product or service.

State and federal laws both protect business owners when it comes to unfair competition. Courts have a number of tools to prevent this, and to restore money or property to victims of unfair competition. In California, victims can collect monetary and injunctive relief. If you’re a victim, the courts look at several factors when determining compensation, including the number of violations, the seriousness of the misconduct, the length of the deceptive acts, and the defendant’s assets, liabilities and net worth.

How Do Unfair Competition Laws Help the Business Sector?

• Unfair competition laws strive to uphold five basic principles of the business market:
• Protect a business’s economic, creative and intellectual investments
• Preserve the goodwill the business has generated with customers
• Dissuade competitors from damaging another business’s goodwill
• Encourage clarity to consumers about which brand they are supporting
• Promote competition by encouraging companies to create better quality products than their competitors