Ley de Represión de la Competencia Desleal (aprobada por el Decreto Legislativo N° 1044), Perú

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LEGISLATIVE DECREE NO.1044

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

WHEREAS

In accordance with Article 104 of the Political Constitution of Peru, through Law No. 29157, which

delegates to the Executive Authority the power to legislate on various subjects relating to the

implementation of the Peru-United States of America Commercial Promotion Agreement, and with the

support of economic competitiveness in order to benefit therefrom, published on December 20, 2007,

the Congress of the Republic has delegated to the Executive Authority the power to legislate, inter

alia, in order to obtain an improvement in the regulatory framework;

After more than 15 years of implementation of Legislative Decree No. 691 and Decree-Law No. 26122,

the assessment made shows the need to unify said legal bodies in order to avoid the absence of

clarity resulting from a dual system of rules, as well as a series of existing deficiencies and gaps in

each of those bodies, thereby requiring comprehensive reform;

In that sense, the adoption of a new Law to Suppress Unfair Competition is relevant, a law which

specifies its aim in accordance with the aim stated in the aforementioned Commercial Promotion

Agreement; clarifies its scope (subjective, objective and territorian( � highlights the prevailing nature of

actual circumstances; establishes clear concepts and criteria for analysis which generate greater

predictability in their application, when establishing the forms of conduct regarded as unfair, including

where they have been carried out through commercial advertising; redefines and substantially

improves the administrative procedure, incorporating reasonable periods, the preclusion of offering

proof (but) without affecting the right of defense, better treatment of precautionary measures and a

clearer distinction between the instructive and decision-making roles of the authority; provides the

sanctions regime with greater deterrent capacity, by enhancing the criteria for establishing them,

increasing the limit for cases of very serious infringements and developing the power of the

competition authority to issue corrective measures; inter alia;

On the basis of said content, a new law which prohibits and sanctions acts of unfair competition, and

also specific infringements of commercial advertising will strengthen substantially the regulatory

framework for the defense of fair competition, which in turn will provide an incentive for economic

efficiency in the national market, promote the country’s economic competitiveness and enhance the

well-being of consumers, by establishing an appropriate investment environment;

With the approval vote of the Council of Ministers and the duty to report to the Congress of the

Republic;

Has issued the following Legislative Decree:

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LEGISLATIVE DECREE APPROVING THE LAW ON SUPPRESSION

OF UNFAIR COMPETITION

TITLE I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Purpose of the Law

This Law shall suppress any act or conduct of unfair competition, the real or potential effect of

which is to impact or prevent the appropriate functioning of the competitive process.

Article 2. Objective scope

This Law shall apply to acts, the direct or indirect effect or purpose of which is to compete on

the market. The application of this Law shall cover the acts performed by means of advertising. In no

case shall it be necessary to determine that the person carrying out such acts does so habitually.

Article 3. Subjective scope

3.1 This Law shall apply to all natural persons or legal entities, unlawful companies, autonomous

economic bodies or other public or private law, State or non-State entities, for or without profit-making

purposes, which supply or demand goods or services, or whose partners, affiliates or union…..s carry

out economic activity on the market. In the case of actual organizations or unlawful companies, it shall

apply to their managers.

3.2 Natural persons acting on behalf of legal entities, unlawful companies, autonomous economic

bodies or entities mentioned in the previous paragraph, under the responsibility thereof, shall through

their acts generate liability, without civil representation conditions being required for that purpose.

Article 4. Territorial scope

This Law shall apply to any act of unfair competition which produces or may produce effects on all or

part of the national territory, even where said act has originated abroad.

Article 5. Primacy of actual circumstances

The administrative authority shall determine the true nature of the forms of conduct investigated, and

shall take into account the economic situations and relations claimed, developed or established in

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reality. The form of the legal acts used by the contracting parties shall not adversely affect the

analysis performed by the authority concerning the true nature of the forms of conduct underlying said

acts.

TITLE II ACTS OF UNFAIR COMPETITION

Chapter I General prohibition on acts of unfair competition

Article 6. General clause

6.1 Acts of unfair competition, whatever form they adopt and whatever the means used to carry

them out, including advertising activity, shall be prohibited and sanctioned, irrespective of the sector of

economic activity in which they arise.

6.2 An act of unfair competition shall be that which results objectively, contrary to the

requirements of entrepreneurial good faith, which must guide competition in a social market economy.

Article 7. Condition of illegality

7.1 The determination of the existence of an act of unfair competition shall not require proof of the

awareness or will to commit such an act.

7.2 Nor shall it be necessary to prove that said act causes actual harm to the detriment of another

competitor, consumers or economic public order; it shall be sufficient to note that the generation of

said harm may occur.

Chapter II Declaratory list of acts of unfair competition

Sub-chapter I Acts which affect market transparency

Article 8. Acts of deception

8.1 These shall consist of the performance of acts, the real or potential effect of which is to

mislead other market agents as to the nature, method of manufacture or distribution, characteristics,

capacity for use, quality, quantity, price, conditions of sale or acquisition and, in general, regarding the

attributes, benefits or conditions corresponding to the goods, services, establishments or transactions

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which the economic agent performing such acts makes available on the market; or mislead as

regards the attributes held by said agent, including everything represented by his entrepreneurial

activity.

8.2 The dissemination of testimonial advertising not supported by authentic and recent

experiences of a witness shall constitute an act of deception.

8.3 The duty of proving that objective statements concerning the goods or services announced are

true and accurate shall be placed on the person who has communicated them in his capacity as

announcer.

8.4 In particular, for the dissemination of any message referring to characteristics of an

announced good or service, that may be verified, the announcer shall have the proof in advance,

which supports the fact that said message is true.

Article 9. Acts of confusion

9.1 These shall consist of the performance of acts, the real or potential effect of which is to

mislead other agents in the market concerning the entrepreneurial origin of the activity, establishment,

specific services or goods, such that these are considered to have an entrepreneurial origin different to

that which they actually possess.

9.2 Acts of confusion may occur through the misuse of goods protected by intellectual property

rules.

Subchapter II Undue acts relating to the reputation of another economic agent

Article 10. Acts of undue exploitation of another person’s reputation

10.1 These shall consist of the performance of acts which, while they do not constitute acts of

confusion, may lead, in real or potential terms, to undue advantage being taken of the image, credit,

fame, prestige or entrepreneurial or professional reputation that corresponds to another economic

agent, including acts capable of generating a risk of association with a third party.

10.2 Acts of undue exploitation of another person’s reputation may occur through the use of goods

protected by intellectual property rules.

Article 11. Acts of denigration

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11.1 These shall consist of the performance of acts, the real or potential effect of which, either

directly or by implication, is to damage the image, credit, fame, prestige or entrepreneurial or

professional reputation of another or other economic agent(s).

11.2 Without prejudice to what is stated in the previous paragraph, such acts shall be considered

lawful, provided that:

(a) they constitute information that is true in terms of its objective, verifiable condition, in line

with reality;

(b) they constitute information that is accurate in terms of its clear and current condition,

presented in a way such that ambiguity or lack of precision is avoided as to the reality

which pertains to the economic agent referred to or to what he is offering;

(c) they are carried out in relevant manner in a way such that, inter alia, unjustified irony,

satire, humor or sarcasm is avoided, in view of the circumstances; and,

(d) they are performed in a relevant context in order to avoid allusions to nationality, beliefs,

sexuality or any other strictly personal circumstances of the owners or representatives of

another firm, inter alia allusions which do not transmit information allowing the consumer

to evaluate the economic agent referred to or what he is offering regarding efficiency

parameters.

Article 12. Acts of undue comparison

12.1 Acts of comparison shall consist of the presentation of the advantages of what is specifically

offered in relation to a competing offer; while other acts of comparison shall consist in presenting only

the linking of what is specifically offered to the attributes of that which is offered by another person. In

order to verify the existence of an act of comparison, it is necessary to perceive an unambiguous,

direct or indirect allusion to what is offered by another economic agent, including through the use of

another person’s distinctive signs.

12.2 Such acts shall be considered lawful provided that they satisfy the provisions of paragraph

11.2 of this Law, otherwise they shall constitute acts of unfair competition.

Subchapter III Acts which unduly alter one’s own or another person’s competitive position

Article 13. Acts violating entrepreneurial secrecy

These shall consist of the performance of acts, the real or potential effect of which is to:

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(a) disclose or exploit, without authorization of their owner, entrepreneurial secrets of another

person, to which access has been gained lawfully with duty of reserve or unlawfully;

(b) acquire entrepreneurial secrets of another person by means of spying, instigation of failure

to fulfill a duty of reserve or similar procedure.

Article 14. Acts in violation of rules

14.1 These shall consist of the performance of acts, the real or potential effect of which is to benefit

in the market from a significant advantage resulting from competition in the market through the

violation of binding rules. In order to determine the existence of a significant advantage, the best

competitive position obtained through the violation of rules shall be assessed.

14.2 The violation of binding rules shall be proved when:

(a) the existence of a prior and firm decision of the authority competent to judge the matter

determining said violation is demonstrated, provided that there is no administrative dispute

pending the review of said decision; or,

(b) the competing person obliged to have authorizations, contracts or titles necessarily

required to carry out the entrepreneurial activity in question does not provide documents

testifying to such possession. Where necessary, the authority shall request from the

competent authority a report in order to evaluate the existence or otherwise of the

corresponding authorization.

14.3 The entrepreneurial activity carried out by a public entity or State enterprise in violation of

Article 60 of the Political Constitution of Peru shall constitute a violation of rules that shall be

determined by the authorities which apply this Law. In this case, it shall not be necessary to provide

proof of the acquisition of a significant advantage by any person carrying out said entrepreneurial

activity.

Article 15. Acts of industrial sabotage

15.1 These shall consist of the performance of acts, the real or potential effect of which is to harm

without justification the production process, commercial or entrepreneurial activity in general of

another economic agent through interference in the contractual relationship maintained with its

workers, suppliers, clients and other stakeholders, and the effect of which is to induce those parties to

fail to perform some essential service or through meddling of any other kind in its processes or

activities.

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15.2 The acts which imply offering better conditions of hiring to workers, suppliers, clients or other

stakeholders with another economic agent, as part of the competitive process for the sake of

efficiency, shall not constitute acts of industrial sabotage.

Subchapter IV Acts of unfair competition carried out through advertising activity

Article 16. Acts against the principle of authenticity

16.1 These shall consist of the performance of acts, the real or potential effect of which is to

prevent the recipient of the advertising recognizing it clearly as such.

16.2 The dissemination of advertising under the cover of alleged news, journalistic opinions or

recreational material, without warning clearly of its advertising nature, shall constitute a failure to

observe this principle; in other words, without indicating in an express and emphatic manner that the

advertising is a published report or a contracted announcement.

Article 17. Acts against the principle of legality

17.1 These shall consist in disseminating advertising which does not respect the binding norms of

the legal order, as applied to advertising activity.

17.2 The failure to observe any sectoral provision regulating the conduct of advertising activity with

respect to its content, dissemination or scope shall constitute a failure to observe this principle.

17.3 In particular, the following shall constitute acts against the principle of legality in advertising:

(a) omitting to warn consumers regarding the main risks implied by the use or consumption of

advertised dangerous products;

(b) omitting to show the total price of a good or service without including applicable taxes and

any additional charge essential for their acquisition, where the price is announced;

(c) omitting the equivalent of the price in national currency in identical characters and of

equivalent size to those which show the price of a good or service in foreign currency, where

this is announced;

(d) omitting in those announcements which offer directly, by showing interest rates, the conduct

of financial liability or asset operations, the noting of the actual annual applicable interest rate

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and of the amount and detail of any applicable additional charge;

(e) omitting in those announcements which offer directly products with prices for credit sale, to

note the amount of the initial quota where this applies to the case, of the total amount of

interest, the actual annual interest rate applicable to the advertised product and the amount

and detail of any additional applicable charge;

(f) omitting, in each of the announcements which disseminate advertising of sales promotions,

the clear indication of its duration and the minimum quantity of available units of products on

offer; and,

(g) omitting in the case of announcements of value added telephone services the clear indication

of the destination of the call, the rate and times at which said tariff is applicable.

In the case of subparagraphs (d) and (e), advertisers must state in the announcement in question, as

appropriate, the actual annual cost applicable to:

(i) the active financial operation if this has been announced under a system of quotas, using an

explanatory example; or

(ii) the announced credit sale. Similarly, the number of quotas or payments to be made and their

frequency should be recorded, where this is applicable to the case. However, advertisers

may make available to consumers for whom the announcement is intended the additional

information indicated in this paragraph through a free easy access service which allows them

to receive information in a rapid and sufficient manner. The announcements must indicate in

a clear and express manner the existence of this information and the references to location of

said service.

Article 18. Acts against the principle of social appropriateness

These shall consist in disseminating advertising, the effect of which is to:

(a) induce the recipients of the advertising message to commit an illegal act or an act of

discrimination or offense on grounds of origin, race, sex, language, religion, opinion, economic

condition or of any other kind;

(b) provide services containing erotic content to a user group other than adults. The

dissemination of this type of advertising shall be permitted only in the written press of

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restricted circulation for adults and, in the case of radio and/or television, between the hours of

1.00 a.m. and 5.00 a.m.

TITLE III PROVISIONS GUIDING THE EVALUATION OF ACTS OF UNFAIR COMPETITION

CARRIED OUT THROUGH ADVERTISING ACTIVITY

Chapter I Freedom of entrepreneurial expression

Article 19. Exercise of freedom of entrepreneurial expression and its limits

19.1 The conduct of advertising activity shall allow the exercise of freedom of expression in

entrepreneurial activity and shall be the vehicle for free private initiative guaranteed by the Political

Constitution of Peru.

19.2 The exercise of freedom of entrepreneurial expression shall not mean that acts of unfair

competition are performed, which affect or limit the appropriate functioning of the competitive process

in a social market economy, nor which affect the right to information on the goods and services

appropriate for consumers, in accordance with the guarantees of the Political Constitution of Peru.

Article 20. Use of advertising licenses

In the exercise of advertising activity, the use of humor, fantasy and exaggeration shall be allowed, to

the extent to which such resources do not contain acts of unfair competition.

Chapter II Criteria for the determination of responsibility

Article 21. Interpretation of advertising

21.1 Advertising shall be assessed by the authority taking into account that it is an instrument for

promoting in the recipient of its message, directly or indirectly, the contracting or consumption of

goods or services.

21.2 Said evaluation shall be carried out on the whole of the content of an advertisement, including

words and numbers, spoken and written, visual and musical presentations, and sound effects,

considering that the recipient of the advertising shall carry out a full and superficial analysis of each

advertising slot which it sees. In the case of advertising campaigns, such campaign shall be analyzed

as a whole, considering the particular features of the advertisements which they contain.

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Article 22. Subsequent control

Advertising shall not require authorization or supervision prior to its dissemination by any authority.

Supervision of the enforcement of this Law shall be carried out only for advertising which has been

disseminated in the market.

Article 23. Assignment of responsibility

23.1 The administrative responsibility resulting from the commission of acts of unfair competition

through advertising shall be borne, in all cases, by the advertiser.

23.2 Also responsible in administrative terms, insofar as is appropriate and on an individual basis,

shall be the means of social communication used for the commission of acts of unfair competition

which infringe dissemination rules that regulate, condition or prohibit the communication of specific

contents or the advertising of particular types of products. This responsibility shall be independent of

that borne by the advertiser.

23.3 In addition, administrative responsibility shall be borne by the advertising agency where the

commission of acts of unfair competition is generated by advertising content distinct from the specific

characteristics of the advertised good or service. This responsibility shall be independent of that borne

by the advertiser.

TITLE IV UNFAIR COMPETITION SUPERVISION AUTHORITIES

Article 24. Authorities

24.1 The first administrative authority shall be the Commission, i.e. the Commission for Supervision

of Unfair Competition and Commissions of Regional Offices of INDECOPI, in which the functions of

that body are decentralized, according to the specific territorial competence.

The Commissions of the Regional Offices shall be competent only in respect of acts which originate

and have effects, either real or potential, exclusively within their respective constituency of territorial

competence.

24.2 The second administrative authority shall be the Tribunal, i.e. the Tribunal for Defense of

Competition and Protection of Intellectual Property of INDECOPI.

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24.3 Any other State authority shall be prevented from carrying out supervision or applying

sanctions in advertising-related cases.

Article 25. The Commission

25.1 The Commission shall be the authority with technical and functional autonomy charged with

applying this Law with exclusive competence at the national level, apart from where said competence

has been assigned or is assigned by express rule with legal rank to another public body.

25.2 The Commission’s duties shall include:

(a) ordering the Technical Secretariat to undertake sanction investigation proceedings and to

sanction acts of unfair competition;

(b) declaring the existence of an act of unfair competition and imposing the corresponding

sanction;

(c) deciding the continuation ex officio of the proceedings, in case of conciliation agreement

between the parties, if the analysis of the facts denounced warns of the possible effects on the

public interest;

(d) issuing precautionary measures;

(e) issuing corrective measures for acts of unfair competition;

(f) issuing guidelines for market agents on the correct interpretation of the rules contained in this

Law;

(g) in their procedures, issuing an opinion, urging or recommending the legislative, political or

administrative authorities with regard to the implementation of measures guaranteeing fair

competition; and,

(h) others assigned to it by the legal provisions in force.

Article 26. The Technical Secretariat

26.1 The Technical Secretariat of the Commission shall be the body with technical autonomy that

carries out the task of instigator of investigation proceedings and sanction of acts of unfair competition.

It shall issue an opinion on the existence or otherwise of an infringing act which is the subject of

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proceedings, provided that the Commission shall so require in order to consider it necessary to settle

the substance of a case.

26.2 The duties of the Technical Secretariat shall be to:

(a) carry out preliminary investigations;

(b) instigate ex officio proceedings for investigation and sanction of acts of unfair competition;

(c) in case of a denunciation by a party, take a decision on admission of proceedings of

investigation and sanction of acts of unfair competition, whereby the denunciation may be

declared unacceptable or inappropriate, as applicable;

(d) institute sanction proceedings, by carrying out investigations and producing evidential means,

exercising for the purpose the powers and competences which the laws have given to the

INDECOPI Commissions;

(e) in exceptional cases and with prior agreement of the Commission, books, archives,

documents, correspondence and registers in general of the natural person or legal entity

under investigation may be taken out of circulation for a period not greater than ten (10)

working days, extendable for a similar period and copies taken thereof. In equal

circumstances, they may be withdrawn from the premises where they are located, for up to

fifteen (15) working days, and a legal order shall be required for them to be withdrawn. The

withdrawal request shall be reasoned and shall be settled within twenty-four (24) hours by a

Criminal Judge, without transfer to the other party;

(f) carry out studies and publish reports;

(g) prepare proposed guidelines;

(h) channel administrative support as required by the Commission;

(i) carry out training and dissemination activities for the application of the provisions contained in

this Law; and,

(j) others assigned to it by the legal provisions in force.

26.3 In order to develop its investigations, the Technical Secretariat shall be authorized to:

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(a) request natural persons or legal entities, unlawful companies and autonomous economic

bodies, to exhibit any type of documents, including the accounting books and members,

proofs of payment, internal or external correspondence and magnetic registers, including, in

this case, the programs which are necessary to read them; and also to request information

referring to the organization, business, shareholdership and structure of ownership of firms.

(b) Summon and interrogate, through the officials appointed for the purpose, the persons subject

to investigation or their representatives, employees, officials, advisors and third parties, by

using the technical means which it considers necessary to generate a complete and reliable

register of their declarations, and for this purpose it may use video, compact disc or any other

type of electronic instrument recordings.

(c) Carry out inspections, with or without prior notification, on the premises of natural persons or

legal entities, unlawful companies and autonomous economic bodies, and examine the books,

registers, documentation and property, and may verify the conduct of production processes

and accept declarations from the persons located on such premises. In the act of inspection,

a copy of physical, magnetic or electronic archives may be taken, as well as of any document

considered relevant, or photographs may be taken or films recorded, as deemed necessary.

Entry may be undertaken by requesting the support of the law-enforcement authorities.

The Technical Secretariat shall obtain prior judicial authorization in order to gain forced entry

where it is not possible to enter premises or where they are locked, as well as for copying

private correspondence which may be held in physical or electronic archives, in accordance

with the special process described below:

(i) the Technical Secretariat shall request a meeting with the criminal judge on duty in order to

obtain special authorization to gain forced entry and/or a copy of private correspondence,

without mentioning the name of the natural person or legal entity, unlawful company or

autonomous economic body that will be subject to inspection without prior notice.

(ii) Once the application is received, the Judge shall plan, within a period no longer than three (3)

working days, and subject to responsibility, a meeting with the Technical Secretariat, at which

a Public Prosecutor may be present.

(iii) In the office of the Judge, and at the appointed time, the Technical Secretary shall explain to

the Judge and, as appropriate, also the Public Prosecutor, the reasons for his request for

special authorization for forced entry and/or a copy of private correspondence, and shall

present the information or submit the documents providing evidence of the existence of

reasonable clues concerning the commission of an administrative offense by the person or

firm which will be subject to inspection and will be identified in the act and also in the place

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where the inspection will be carried out. At said meeting, if the Judge considers that the

application is justified, he shall declare it receivable and shall issue in the act the

corresponding resolution, and a record shall be produced signed by all those present.

(iv) In the decision mentioned in the previous paragraph the name, denomination or business

name of the person or firm that will be inspected by the Technical Secretariat and also the

place where the premises subject to inspection are located shall be indicated, and the scope

of the corresponding authorization, which may include, inter alia, the review and copying of

the electronic messages received or submitted by the managers, administrators or

representatives of the person or firm subject to investigation shall be reasoned and specified.

(v) In a period of not more than three (3) working days after the inspection visit has been

completed, the Technical Secretariat shall prepare a report providing details of the

proceedings, which shall be submitted to the Judge and, where appropriate, to the Public

Prosecutor that attended the meeting.

(vi) Both the Judge and the Public Prosecutor mentioned above shall retain absolute reserve on

the current special process, subject to responsibility, from the beginning of the meeting at

which the special authorization application for forced entry and/or a copy of private

correspondence filed by the Technical Secretariat until the time when they receive from the

Secretariat the report referred to in the previous paragraph.

(vii) Where this is not the case, the Technical Secretariat shall be authorized to file a second

special authorization application for forced entry and/or a copy of private correspondence.

Article 27. The Tribunal

27.1 The Tribunal shall be the body charged with reviewing, in second and final instance, the acts

that may be challenged, issued by the Commission or the Technical Secretariat.

27.2 Through its Technical Secretariat, the Tribunal shall be authorized, ex officio, to provide

evidential means allowing the facts ascribed as an infringement to be clarified.

TITLE 5 ADMINISTRATIVE SANCTIONS PROCEEDINGS

Chapter I Postulation

Article 28. Forms of instituting proceedings

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28.1 Sanctions investigation proceedings and those for the sanction of acts of unfair competition

shall always be instituted ex officio at the initiative of the Technical Secretariat.

28.2 In the trilateral sanctions proceedings instituted by denunciation of a party, the denouncer

shall be a party to the proceedings and the Technical Secretariat shall retain titular status for the ex

officio case. Any person submitting a denunciation by a party shall not be required to prove the

capacity of competitor or consumer linked to the person denounced, and it shall be sufficient for that

person to be considered affected, actually or potentially, by the act of unfair competition being

denounced.

28.3 Sanctions proceedings may be instituted when the denounced act is being carried out, where

there is a threat that it occurs and, even, where its effects have already ceased.

Article 29. Requirements for denunciation by a party

The denunciation by a party which ascribes the conduct of acts of unfair competition shall contain:

(a) name, denomination or business name of the denouncer, his domicile and the corresponding

powers, where appropriate;

(b) reasonable evidence of the presumed existence of one or more acts of unfair competition;

(c) identification of the parties presumed to be responsible, provided that this is possible; and,

(d) proof of payment of the fee for the right of prosecuting the sanction proceedings.

Article 30. Acts prior to admission for processing by denunciation of a party

Once a denunciation by a party has been submitted and prior to the decision to institute proceedings

to identify and sanction acts of unfair competition, the Technical Secretariat may perform prior acts for

the purposes of gathering information and/or identifying reasonable evidence of the existence of acts

of unfair competition. These prior acts shall be carried out within a period of not more than thirty (30)

working days, beginning from the time the denunciation is submitted.

Article 31. Decision to institute proceedings

31.1 The Technical Secretariat shall take a decision on admitting for processing a denunciation by

a party and verify that the formal requirements contained in the Single Text of Administrative

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Proceedings – TUPA INDECOPI – have been met, together with the competence of the Commission

and the existence of reasonable evidence that this Law has been infringed.

31.2 The decision to assign responsibilities or to institute proceedings shall contain:

(a) the identification of the person or persons to whom the presumed infringement is ascribed;

(b) a succinct explanation of the facts underlying the establishment of proceedings, legal

characterization of the possible infringement and, where appropriate, the appropriate

sanctions;

(c) the identification of the competent authority for resolving the case, with an indication of the

rule assigning said competence to it; and,

(d) the indication of the right to formulate responsibilities and the term for their exercise.

31.3 The decision to institute proceedings shall be communicated to the Commission within a

period of no more than five (5) working days and, in this same period, the economic agents

denounced shall be notified, together with the parties which submitted the denunciation by a party,

who shall be considered party to the proceedings through said submission, as appropriate.

31.4 The decision to declare inadmissible or inappropriate the denunciation may be challenged

before the Tribunal within five (5) working days.

Article 32. Term for submission of evidence

The person charged may defend himself on the charges made through the decision to institute

proceedings within a maximum period of ten (10) working days, and shall submit the arguments and

considerations he considers appropriate and offer the corresponding proof. This term may be

extended by the Technical Secretariat once only and for a maximum period of five (5) working days,

only if the need for such an extension has been proven.

Chapter II Precautionary Measures

Article 33. Precautionary measures

33.1 At any stage of the proceedings, the Commission may, ex officio or at the request of any

person who has submitted a denunciation by a party or from third parties with legitimate interest that

have also been party to the proceedings, issue a precautionary measure intended to ensure the

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effectiveness of the final decision, which shall include ensuring the implementation of the corrective

measures and the coverage of any sanctions that may be imposed. In relation to the latter

supposition, once the infringement has been declared by means of a firm decision, the precautionary

measure relating to payment of the sanction shall be maintained subject to the responsibility of the

coercive enforcer.

33.2 The Commission may adopt the precautionary measure, innovative or non-innovative, generic

or specific, which it considers relevant, especially the order of termination of an act or the prohibition

thereof if it has not yet been put into practice, the imposition of conditions, the confiscation, deposit or

immobilization of the products, labels, packaging and advertising material subject to denunciation, the

adoption of the measures necessary for the customs authorities to prevent the entry into the country of

the products which are the subject of denunciation, which shall be coordinated with the competent

authorities in accordance with the legislation in force, the temporary closure of the establishment of the

party denounced, the adoption of positive behaviors and any others which help to preserve the fair

competition affected and to avoid the damage that may be caused by the acts which are the subject of

proceedings.

33.3 The precautionary measures shall be adjusted to the intensity, proportionality and needs of the

damage that an attempt is being made to avoid.

33.4 In an emergency, in accordance with the facts, the President of the Commission may issue a

precautionary measure intended to avoid irreparable damage, with responsibility to inform the

Commission, at the following session thereof, so that it may decide to approve the measure imposed.

33.5 In relation to applications from any person which has submitted a denunciation by a party or

third parties with legitimate interest that have also been party to the proceedings, the Commission may

grant them or refuse them within a period of not more than fifteen (15) working days. The person filing

the application shall not be subject to civil insurance measures such as countercaution and the like.

The Commission may grant precautionary measures other than those requested, provided that it

considers that they are better suited to the intensity, proportionality and need of the damage which an

attempt is being made to avoid.

33.6 At any time during the proceedings, ex officio or at the request of a party, the suspension, amendment or revocation of the precautionary measures may be agreed.

33.7 The decisions which impose precautionary measures may be appealed before the Tribunal

within five (5) working days. The appeal of precautionary measures shall be granted without

suspensive effect, and shall be processed in a separate record, without prejudice to the provisions of

Article 216 of the Law on General Administrative Procedure. The Tribunal shall take a decision on the

appeal within a period of not more than ten (10) working days.

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33.8 The Tribunal shall have the same powers assigned to the Commission for the issue of

precautionary measures.

Article 34. Requirements for the issue of precautionary measures

For the grant of a precautionary measure, the Commission shall verify the concurrent existence of:

(i) probability of the existence of an act of unfair competition; and

(ii) danger of a delay in a final decision.

Chapter III Proceedings

Article 35. Period of proof

The period of proof shall be no less than thirty (30) working days and may not exceed one hundred

(100) working days beginning from the expiry of the period for answering. The expenses relating to

the processing of proof shall be borne by the parties offering it and shall not constitute a tax.

Article 36. Means of proof

36.1 The parties may offer, inter alia, the following means of proof:

(a) documents;

(b) inspections; and

(c) expert evidence

36.2 The processing of proof other than that mentioned in the previous subparagraph, such as

testimonials or interrogations, shall proceed if, in the opinion of the Commission, such proof is needed

especially to settle the case.

36.3 Should it be necessary to conduct an inspection, this shall be carried out by the Technical

Secretary or by the person appointed thereby for that purpose. Provided that an inspection is carried

out, a record shall be produced, which shall be signed by the person responsible therefor, as well as

by the interested parties exercising their representation on behalf of those responsible for the

corresponding store, office or establishment.

36.4 Both for the processing of proof and the conduct of proceedings, including inspections,

testimonials and interrogations, the Technical Secretary or the person appointed thereby may request

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the immediate intervention of the National Police, without the need for prior notification, in order to

guarantee that its functions are carried out.

36.5 Means of proof shall be financed by the person providing them. The costs of such proof that

are ordered by the authority may be shared between the person accused and the person who has

submitted the denunciation by a party, as appropriate.

36.6 The facts noted by the Technical Secretary, the person appointed thereby or by officials for

whom the capacity of authority is recognized and which are formalized in a public document,

observing the relevant legal requirements, shall have full evidential value, without prejudice to the

proof that, in defense of their rights or interests, may be produced by those administered.

Article 37. Inappropriate nature of means of proof

The Commission may reject the means of proof provided by the person accused, by those who have

submitted the denunciation by a party or by third parties with legitimate interest that have also been

party to the proceedings, where they are clearly irrelevant or unnecessary, based on a reasoned

decision.

Article 38. Prosecution of proceedings

38.1 Owing to its competence, the Technical Secretariat shall be authorized to carry out, ex officio, as many proof-related procedures as are necessary for the examination of the facts, and shall gather

together the documents, information or objects that are relevant for determining, in a particular case,

the existence or otherwise of the administrative infringement alleged.

38.2 If, as a result of the institution of proceedings, the initial determination of the facts is amended,

as a result of its possible qualification or the sanctions to be imposed, the Technical Secretariat shall

issue a new allegation decision, which shall replace as a pledge of responsibility the decision to

institute proceedings, and shall inform accordingly the Commission and notify the persons accused, as

well as those persons who have submitted the denunciation by a party, where appropriate. Where this

new decision is issued, the terms for the formulation of proof and the legal period corresponding to the

prosecution of the proceedings shall recommence.

38.3 Before finalizing the period of proof, while the Technical Secretariat considers that in the

proceedings the means of proof and sufficient substitutes have been processed to settle the case, it

shall inform the parties that it has concluded the prosecution of proceedings and that the proceedings

have been brought to the attention of the Commission so that it may take a decision on the substance

of the case.

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Chapter IV Public and confidential information

Article 39. Access to records

At any time during proceedings, and until such time as the proceedings are concluded at

administrative headquarters, only the party accused, any person who has submitted a denunciation by

a party or third parties with legitimate interest that have also been party to the proceedings, shall have

the right to familiarize themselves with the processing of the file, have access thereto and to obtain

copies of the records, provided that the Commission has not approved its reservation on producing

confidential information.

Article 40. Confidential information

40.1 At the request of a party or third party with legitimate interest, including a public body, the

Commission shall declare the reservation of such information which is of a confidential nature, either in

relation to business secrets, information which affects personal or family privacy, that whose

disclosure could harm its owner and, in general, that provided for as such in the Law on Transparency

and Access to Public Information.

40.2 In accordance with the Law on Transparency and Access to Public Information, the application

for declaration of a reservation concerning a commercial, industrial, technological or, in general,

business secret shall be granted by the Commission or the Tribunal, provided that such information:

(a) relates to knowledge of a reserved or private nature regarding a specific subject;

(b) that those who have access to said knowledge have the will and informed awareness in

keeping it reserved, adopting the necessary measures to maintain said information as such;

and

(c) the information has commercial, actual or potential value.

40.3 Access to the information declared subject to reservation may only be gained by the Members

of the Commission and of the Tribunal, their Technical Secretaries and the persons duly authorized

therefor who work or maintain a contractual relationship with INDECOPI.

40.4 In the cases in which the Commission or Tribunal grant the request for a reservation made,

they shall take all the measures that are necessary in order to guarantee the reservation and

confidentiality of the information.

40.5 In order for the application for a declaration of reservation to proceed, the interested party

shall specify what the confidential information is, provide proof of its application and submit a non-

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confidential summary of said information. In order to assess whether the information is confidential in

nature, the Commission shall evaluate the relevance of the information, its prior non-disclosure and

the possible effects which its disclosure might cause.

40.6 In relation to an inspection visit or an interview, and at the time this procedure is carried out,

the interested party may request the general reservation of all information or documentation that it is

declaring or submitting to the Technical Secretariat. Subsequently, the Technical Secretariat shall

inform the interested party that information or documentation is relevant for the investigation, and shall

grant a reasonable period for the interested party to individualize, in relation to the relevant

information, the confidentiality application in accordance with the provisions of the previous paragraph.

40.7 The authority may declare ex officio the reservation on information linked to personal or family privacy or which places at risk the physical integrity thereof.

40.8 The procedures and periods for the declaration of reservation of confidential information shall

be produced by Directive in accordance with the Law on Organization and Functions of INDECOPI.

Chapter V Conclusion of first instance proceedings

Article 41. Conclusion of period of proof

41.1 The period of proof shall end ten (10) working days after the Technical Secretariat makes

known to the Commission all the procedures, by considering that in the proceedings the means of

proof and sufficient substitutes are available for the case to be settled.

41.2 If after reviewing the materials processed, the Commission considers it necessary to have

available greater evidence, it shall indicate this accordingly to the Technical Secretariat which shall

notify the parties so that they may absolve the orders of the Commission within a period of not less

than five (5) working days, in accordance with the complexity of the request. The parties shall submit

such absolution in writing, and attach the means of proof they consider appropriate or which have

been requested from them.

Article 42. The Technical Report

42.1 Once the materials processed have been made known to the Commission, the Commission

may request the Technical Secretariat, where it considers necessary, to provide a technical report

which, in a maximum period of fifteen (15) working days, shall issue a statement on the following:

(a) reference to the facts which it considers proven;

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(b) consideration of the existence or otherwise of the alleged administrative infringement; and,

(c) proposed corrective measures which it considers necessary, where appropriate.

42.2 The Technical Report referred to in the previous subparagraph shall be notified to the parties

to the proceedings, which shall have a period of ten (10) working days to make allegations known to

the Commission.

42.3 Should the Technical Secretariat not find proof of the existence of an act of unfair competition,

it shall provide the Commission with a declaration of the non-existence of an administrative

infringement.

Article 43. The oral report hearing

Once the materials processed have been made known to the Commission, the Commission may,

where it considers necessary and at the request of a party, summon that party to an oral report

hearing. In any case, the Commission may, ex officio, summon any party to an oral report hearing. The corresponding summons shall be produced not less than five (5) working days in advance.

Article 44. Preclusion of the submission of proof

44.1 The parties may make written submissions, argue for and provide means of proof only until the

end of the period of proof. The Commission may make provision subsequently, ex officio or at the request of a party, for the processing of additional means of proof, if, in its opinion, they are necessary

to clarify the facts denounced.

44.2 Once the period of proof is over, the parties may only make written submissions and

arguments when the Technical Secretariat notifies them so that they absolve the orders of the

Commission or when they are responsible for absolving the content of the Technical Report of the

Technical Secretariat, where appropriate. Similarly, the parties may submit final allegations within a

period of ten (10) working days following the production of the oral report ordered by the Commission.

The parties may not submit additional proof in their final allegations.

Article 45. Final decision

45.1 In order to issue its ruling, the Commission shall have a period of fifteen (15) working days

beginning from the end of the period of proof, from the absolution of the content of the Technical

Report of the Technical Secretariat or from expiry of the period which the parties have to make final

allegations, as shall occur at the end.

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45.2 The Commission decision shall be reasoned and shall settle all the matters resulting from the

file. The decision shall not contain any assignment of responsibility to those involved for facts which

have not been appropriately alleged in the institution of proceedings.

45.3 A decision shall be notified to the parties involved in the proceedings within a maximum period

of ten (10) working days from its issue.

Chapter VI Second instance proceedings

Article 46. Appeal remedy

46.1 The final decision of the Commission shall be appealable by the accused, by any person who

has submitted a denunciation by a party and by third parties with legitimate interest who have been

involved in the proceedings, within a period of ten (10) working days.

46.2 Similarly, the following acts by the Technical Secretariat or Commission shall be appealable

within the same period, as appropriate:

(a) those which demonstrate that it is impossible to continue proceedings; and

(b) those which may produce a lack of defense of or cause irreparable harm to legitimate rights or

interests.

46.3 The remedy of reconsideration shall not be used against the decisions and acts of the

Technical Secretariat or Commission.

46.4 The appeal remedy shall be processed within a period not greater than one hundred and

twenty (120) working days. The Tribunal decision shall be notified to the parties to the proceedings

and to third parties who have been involved within a maximum period of ten (10) working days from its

issue.

Article 47. Lodging of appeal remedy

47.1 The appeal shall be lodged with the authority which issued the decision being appealed, and

said authority shall submit it to the Tribunal, together with the main file, or under separate cover, as

appropriate, and once the requirements of acceptability and suitability have been satisfied, within a

period of fifteen (15) working days. A statement declaring an appeal to be unacceptable or

inappropriate shall allow the complaint remedy to be lodged before the Tribunal.

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47.2 The parties interested in determining the existence of an infringing act and the imposition of a

sanction may only appeal the final decision where this has acquitted the denounced party.

Article 48. Processing of appeal remedy

48.1 The Tribunal shall notify the interested parties, within a period of fifteen (15) working days from

the time when the file is received, the arrival of the file and the beginning of processing of the appeal

remedy.

48.2 The appellants may submit allegations, documents and evidence which they deem relevant

within a period of fifteen (15) working days beginning from the notification referred to in the previous

paragraph.

48.3 At the request of a party, or ex officio, the Tribunal shall summon to an oral report hearing the parties so that they may explain their final allegations, no less than five (5) days in advance.

48.4 The parties may submit final allegations only up to the five (5) working days following the

production of the oral report. Any document submitted subsequently shall not be taken into

consideration by the Tribunal.

Article 49. Tribunal decision

The Tribunal decision may not imply the imposition of more serious sanctions for the infringer

sanctioned, where this recurs or challenges the Commission’s decision.

Article 50. Questioning of Tribunal decisions

The final decisions of the Tribunal shall exhaust the administrative channels. No administrative

remedy may be lodged and an administrative dispute complaint only may be lodged against such

decisions within the terms of the relevant legislation.

Chapter VII Infringement prescription

Article 51. Period of prescription for administrative infringements

Infringements of this Law shall be subject to a statute of limitations of five (5) years from the time the

last act challenged as being an infringement is carried out. The statute of limitations shall be

interrupted by any act of the Technical Secretariat relating to the investigation of the infringement

which shall be made known to the party presumed to be responsible. The period shall recommence if

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the proceedings remain adjourned for more than sixty (60) working days for a reason that cannot be

ascribed to the party under investigation.

TITLE VI SANCTION AND ELIMINATION OF ACTS OF UNFAIR COMPETITION

Chapter I Administrative infringement sanctions

Article 52. Sanction parameters

52.1 The performance of acts of unfair competition shall constitute an infringement of the provisions

of this Law and shall be sanctioned by the Commission subject to the following parameters:

(a) if the infringement is characterized as slight and there has been no real effect on the market,

with a warning;

(b) if the infringement is characterized as slight, with a fine up to fifty (50) Tax Units (UIT) and

which does not exceed ten per cent (10 per cent) of the gross income received by the

infringer, relative to all its economic activities, corresponding to the financial year immediately

prior to that during which the Commission issues its decision;

(c) if the infringement is characterized as serious, a fine of up to two hundred and fifty (250) UIT

and which does not exceed ten per cent (10 per cent) of the gross income obtained by the

infringer, relative to all its economic activities, corresponding to the financial year immediately

prior to that during which the Commission issues its decision; and,

(d) if the infringement is characterized as very serious, a fine of up to seven hundred (700) UIT

and which does not exceed ten per cent (10 per cent) of the gross income obtained by the

infringer, relative to all its economic activities, corresponding to the financial year immediately

prior to that during which the Commission issues its decision.

52.2 The percentages on the gross income obtained by the infringer, relative to all its economic

activities, corresponding to the financial year immediately prior to that during which the Commission

takes its decision, as indicated in the previous subparagraph, shall not be considered a parameter for

determining the level of the corresponding fine in the cases in which the infringer: (i) has not provided

proof of the amount of gross income obtained relative to all its economic activities, corresponding to

said financial year; or, (ii) is a repeat offender.

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52.3 The repeat offense shall be considered an aggravating circumstance, for which reason the

applicable sanction shall not be less than the previous sanction.

52.4 For the purposes of calculating the amount of the fines to be applied in accordance with this

Law, the UIT in force on the date of actual payment shall be used.

52.5 The applicable fine shall be reduced by twenty-five per cent (25 per cent) when the infringer

pays the amount thereof prior to the end of the term for challenging the Commission decision which

put a stop to the case and insofar as it does not lodge any kind of challenge against said decision.

Article 53. Criteria for determining the seriousness of the infringement and adjusting the sanction

In order to determine the seriousness of the infringement and the application of the corresponding

fines, the Commission may take into consideration, inter alia, the following criteria:

(a) the unlawful profit resulting from the commission of the infringement;

(b) the probability of detection of the infringement;

(c) the method used for and scope of the act of unfair competition;

(d) the size of the affected market;

(e) the infringer’s market quota;

(f) the effect of the act of unfair competition on actual or potential competitors, other agents

participating in the competitive process, and consumers or users;

(g) the duration in time of the act of unfair competition; and,

(h) the repeat offense or reiteration of the commission of an act of unfair competition.

Article 54. Statute of limitations on sanctions

54.1 Action requiring sanctions to be carried out shall be limited to a period of three (3) years,

beginning from the day following that on which the decision imposing the sanction is made firm.

54.2 The statute of limitations on sanctions shall be interrupted by the institution, with the

knowledge of the interested party, of joint enforcement proceedings. This period shall be recalculated

beginning from when the joint enforcement proceedings remain suspended for more than thirty (30)

working days for a reason that cannot be ascribed to the infringer.

Chapter II Corrective Measures

Article 55. Corrective measures

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55.1 In addition to the sanction imposed for the conduct of an act of unfair competition, the

Commission may issue corrective measures leading to the re-establishment of fair competition in the

market, and said measures may, inter alia, consist in:

(a) ceasing the act or prohibiting it even if it has still not been carried out;

(b) removing the effects produced by the act, through the conduct of activities, including under

specific conditions;

(c) the confiscation and/or destruction of the products, labels, packaging, infringing material and

other elements of false identification;

(d) the temporary closure of the infringing establishment;

(e) the rectification of misleading, incorrect or false information;

(f) the adoption of the measures necessary for the customs authorities to prevent the entry into

the country of the products subject to infringement, which shall be coordinated with the

competent authorities, in accordance with the legislation in force; or

(g) the publication of the conviction decision.

55.2 The Tribunal shall have the same powers assigned to the Commission for issuing corrective

measures.

Chapter III Coercive fines

Article 56. Coercive fines for failure to carry out precautionary measures

56.1 If a person obliged to carry out a precautionary measure ordered by the Commission or

Tribunal does not do so, a fine of no less than ten (10) UIT or greater than one hundred and twenty

five (125) UIT shall automatically be imposed on him, and adjustment of the fine shall take into

account the criteria indicated for determining seriousness of an infringement and adjusting the

sanction. The corresponding fine shall be paid within five (5) working days, following which its

enforced recovery shall be ordered.

56.2 In cases where the failure to carry out a measure, as referred to in the previous paragraph,

persists, the Commission may impose a new fine, successively duplicating the amount of the last fine

imposed, up to the limit of seven hundred (700) UIT. The fines imposed shall not prevent the

Commission from imposing a different sanction at the end of the proceedings.

Article 57. Coercive fines for failure to carry out corrective measures

57.1 If the person obliged to carry out a corrective measure ordered by the Commission in its final

decision dos not do so, a coercive fine equivalent to twenty five per cent (25 per cent) of the fine

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imposed for performance of the act of unfair competition declared shall be imposed on him. The

coercive fine imposed shall be paid within five (5) working days, following which its enforced recovery

shall be ordered.

57.2 In cases where the failure to carry out a measure, as referred to in the previous paragraph,

persists, the Commission may impose a new coercive fine, successively duplicating the amount of the

last coercive fine imposed, until the corrective measure ordered is performed and up to the limit of

sixteen (16) times the amount of the coercive fine originally imposed.

57.3 The coercive fines imposed shall not constitute sanctions for the conduct of an act of unfair

competition.

TITLE VII COMPENSATION CLAIMS

Article 58. Compensation for damages

58.1 Any person harmed by acts of unfair competition declared by the Commission or, where

appropriate, the Tribunal, may make to the Judicial Authority a civil claim for compensation for

damages against those responsible identified by INDECOPI.

58.2 Any persons who have been denounced recklessly or falsely, with ill will or negligence, may

also bring such an action.

TITLE VIII GLOSSARY

Article 59. Definitions

For the purposes of this Law:

(a) advertising agency means any natural person or legal entity which provides design,

preparation, organization and/or production of advertisements and other advertising services;

(b) advertisement means the advertising dissemination unit;

(c) advertiser means any natural person or legal entity who performs acts, the effect or direct or

indirect aim of which is to compete on the market and which, by means of disseminating

advertisements, aims to:

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(i) illustrate to the public, inter alia, the nature, characteristics, properties or attributes of

the goods or services whose production, intermediation or service constitutes the

subject matter of its activity; or,

(ii) encourages transactions to satisfy its business interests;

(d) advertising means any form of communication disseminated by any means or carrier, and

objectively suited or designed to promote, either directly or indirectly, the image, trademarks,

products or services of a person, firm or entity in the exercise of its commercial, industrial or

professional activity, within the framework of a competition activity, promoting the contracting

or conduct of transactions to satisfy its business interests;

(e) advertising campaign means advertisements disseminated in a single geographical and

temporal area, by the same advertiser, by various means such as television, radio, sales

catalogs, leaflets, newspapers, magazines, boards and the Internet, inter alia, with respect to

the same products and presenting the same main advertising message;

(f) means of social communication means any natural person or legal entity which provides

services in any of the forms through which it is feasible to disseminate advertising, be it in a

personalized or impersonal manner, on the national territory, by means such as

correspondence, television, radio, telephone, Internet, facsimile, newspapers, magazines,

posters, boards, flyers or any other means which produces a similar communication effect;

(g) dissemination standard means any standard referring to the characteristics, arrangements for

and prohibitions of the disclosure to the public of advertising, with the exception of those

referring to the physical location of advertisements, the aim of which is urbanistic and not to

regulate the advertising message;

(h) promotion of sales means any discount designed to incentivize a transaction for goods or

services in exceptional and temporary conditions of sale, which appear to be more beneficial

than the conditions of the ordinary or standard offer. This may consist of a reduction in prices,

increase in quantity, competitions, draws, exchanges and the like;

(i) product advertising means any advertising fixed on the packaging, wrapping or body of the

product. The labeling shall not be for advertising purposes, for which reason since product

advertising is not considered it lies outside the scope of this Law;

(j) testimonial advertising means any advertising which may be perceived by the consumer as a

manifestation of opinions, beliefs, discoveries or experiences of a witness, by means of which

the name of the person carrying out the testimonial is identified or is identifiable by his fame or

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public notoriety;

(k) labeling means basic commercial information consisting of data, instructions, records or

information which the supplier provides to the consumer, pursuant to a legal norm or under

recommended quality standards, expressed in neutral terms or simply descriptive, without

assessments or valuations of the characteristics or benefits which the information gives to the

product, i.e. without the aim of promoting its acquisition or consumption; and,

(l) witness means any natural person or legal entity, in public or private law, other than the

advertiser whose opinions, beliefs, discoveries or experiences are presented in advertising.

FINAL SUPPLEMENTARY PROVISIONS

ONE. Primary competence

The control of unfair forms of conduct shall be governed by the principle of primary competence, which

shall lie with INDECOPI and the Supervisory Authority for Private Investment in Telecommunications

(OSIPTEL), in accordance with the different laws. Recourse may not be had to the Judicial Authority

without previously having exhausted the administrative remedies before those authorities.

TWO. Consumer rights

The acts of unfair competition prohibited by this Law shall be sanctioned independently of the direct

effects which they may produce to the prejudice of consumers’ rights. Where consumers exist who

are affected as a result of an act of unfair competition, it shall be the responsibility of the authority

competent in relation to consumer protection to apply the provisions which govern such rights

according to the relevant law.

THREE. Investigation of conduct with effects outside the country

Within the exclusive framework of an international agreement, and pursuant to the principle of

reciprocity, the Commission may investigate, in accordance with this Law, acts of unfair competition

performed on the national territory but with effects in one or more countries which form part of the

agreement in question.

FOUR. Exclusive nature of administrative competence and scope of exceptions

The authorities competent for the application of this Law in accordance with the provisions of Title IV

shall have exclusive competence at the national level for determining and sanctioning acts of unfair

competition.

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Administrative competence for the application of this Law may be assumed by a different

administrative authority only when an express rule with legal rank so provides.

The application of this Law to the telecommunications public services market shall be the responsibility

of the Supervisory Authority for Private Investment in Telecommunications (OSIPTEL), in accordance

with Law No. 27336 – Law on Development of Functions and Powers of OSIPTEL. In this sense, the

competent authorities, their powers and the procedures which govern their activities shall be those

established within its normative framework.

Where an act of unfair competition that is determined and sanctioned is one that has been carried out

through advertising activity, administrative competence shall lie only with the authorities competent for

the application of this Law, in accordance with the provisions of Title IV, without any exception.

FIVE. Acts of unfair competition relating to effects on intellectual property rights

Administrative competence for the application of this Law in determining and sanctioning acts of unfair

competition in methods used for acts of confusion and acts of undue exploitation of another person’s

reputation, which are linked to effects on intellectual property rights, shall be assigned to the

corresponding Intellectual Property Commission, in accordance with the special legislation on this

subject, and only if the denunciation by a party is submitted by the rightsowner or by any person

authorized so to do thereby.

SIX. Supranational standards

The community or supranational standards which characterize acts of unfair competition shall be

applied by the competent authorities indicated by this Law, provided that there is no conflict with the

distribution of powers that these standards may determine. The interpretation of said community or

supranational standards shall recognize the pre-eminence accruing to them.

SEVEN. Validity and application

This Law shall enter into force thirty (30) calendar days after the date of its publication in the Official

Gazette El Peruano and shall be immediately applicable in terms of all its provisions, apart from those

governing the administrative procedure, including those which determine the scale of sanctions, which

shall be applicable only to the proceedings instituted subsequent to its entry into force.

EIGHT. Application of this Law to financial services

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This Law shall not affect the validity or applicability of the Supplementary Law to the Law on

Consumer Protection in relation to financial services, approved by Law No. 28587, nor to its regulatory

standards issued in accordance with its single transitional provision, which shall continue to be fully

valid and prevail over this Law. The provisions of this Law which cover the financial system shall

therefore only apply in accordance with Law No. 28587 and its regulatory standards.

The provisions of Article 17(d), (e) and (f) of this Law shall be applicable only for the services provided

or advertised by firms not subject to the supervision of the Supervisory Authority for Banks, Insurance

and Private Pension Fund Administrators.

REPEAL PROVISIONS

ONE. General repeal

This Law shall be of public order and shall repeal all the legal or administrative provisions, of similar or

lower rank, opposed to or contradicting it.

TWO. Express repeal

The following standards shall be repealed expressly from the time this Law comes into force:

(a) Decree Law No. 26122 and the rules amending, adding to and replacing it;

(b) Legislative Decree No. 691 and the rules amending, adding to and replacing it;

(c) Supreme Decree No. 039-2000-ITINCI insofar as it approves the single ordered text

of normative instruments indicated in subparagraphs (a) and (b) above;

(d) Supreme Decree No. 20-94-ITINCI and the rules amending, adding to and replacing

it; and,

(e) Articles 238, 239 and 240 of the Penal Code.

Any legal or administrative reference to the matters regulated by provisions contained in Decree Law

No. 26122, Legislative Decree No. 691 and Supreme Decree No. 20-94-ITINCI, as well as the rules

amending, adding to or replacing them shall be made in accordance with this Law, insofar as is

applicable and appropriate.

THEREFORE:

I order that this Legislative Decree be published and enforced, and a report made to the Congress of

the Republic.

Done at the House of Government, in Lima, on the 25th day of June 2008.

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ALAN GARCÍA PÉREZ

Constitutional President of the Republic

JORGE DEL CASTILLO GÁLVEZ

President of the Council of Ministers

218542-6

DECRETO LEGISLATIVO QUE APRUEBA LA LEY DE REPRESIÓN DE LA COMPETENCIA DESLEAL

TÍTULO I DISPOSICIONES GENERALES

Artículo 1º.- Finalidad de la Ley.

La presente Ley reprime todo acto o conducta de competencia desleal que tenga por efecto, real o potencial, afectar o impedir el adecuado funcionamiento del proceso competitivo.

Artículo 6º.- Cláusula general.

6.1.- Están prohibidos y serán sancionados los actos de competencia desleal, cualquiera sea la forma que adopten y cualquiera sea el medio que permita su realización, incluida la actividad publicitaria, sin importar el sector de la actividad económica en la que se manifiesten.

6.2.- Un acto de competencia desleal es aquél que resulte objetivamente contrario a las exigencias de la buena fe empresarial que deben orientar la concurrencia en una economía social de mercado.

Artículo 24º.- Las autoridades.

24.1.- En primera instancia administrativa la autoridad es la Comisión, entendiendo por ésta a la Comisión de Fiscalización de la Competencia Desleal y a las Comisiones de las Oficinas Regionales del INDECOPI en las que se desconcentren las funciones de aquélla, según la competencia territorial que sea determinada. Las Comisiones de las Oficinas Regionales serán competentes únicamente respecto de actos que se originen y tengan efectos, reales o potenciales, exclusivamente dentro de su respectiva circunscripción de competencia territorial.

24.2.- En segunda instancia administrativa la autoridad es el Tribunal, entendiendo por éste al Tribunal de Defensa de la Competencia y de la Protección de la Propiedad Intelectual del INDECOPI.

24.3.- Cualquier otra autoridad del Estado queda impedida de realizar supervisión o aplicar sanciones en materia publicitaria.

Artículo 28º.-Formas de iniciación del procedimiento.

28.1.- El procedimiento sancionador de investigación y sanción de actos de competencia desleal

NORMAS LEGALES 374797

Lima, jueves 26 de junio de 2008

se inicia siempre de oficio por iniciativa de la Secretaría Técnica.

28.2.- En el procedimiento trilateral sancionador promovido por una denuncia de parte, el denunciante es un colaborador en el procedimiento, conservando la Secretaría Técnica la titularidad de la acción de oficio. Quien presente una denuncia de parte no requerirá acreditar la condición de competidor o consumidor vinculado al denunciado, bastando únicamente que se repute afectado efectiva o potencialmente por el acto de competencia desleal que denuncia.

28.3.- El procedimiento sancionador podrá ser iniciado cuando el acto denunciado se está ejecutando, cuando exista amenaza de que se produzca e, inclusive, cuando ya hubiera cesado sus efectos.

Artículo 52º.- Parámetros de la sanción.

52.1.- La realización de actos de competencia desleal constituye una infracción a las disposiciones de la presente Ley y será sancionada por la Comisión bajo los siguientes parámetros:

52.2.- Los porcentajes sobre los ingresos brutos percibidos por el infractor, relativos a todas sus actividades económicas, correspondientes al ejercicio inmediato anterior al de la resolución de la Comisión indicados en el numeral precedente no serán considerados como parámetro para determinar el nivel de multa correspondiente en los casos en que el infractor: i) no haya acreditado el monto de ingresos brutos percibidos relativos a todas sus actividades

a) El benefi cio ilícito resultante de la comisión de la infracción;

b) La probabilidad de detección de la infracción;

c) La modalidad y el alcance del acto de competencia desleal;

d) La dimensión del mercado afectado;

e) La cuota de mercado del infractor;

f) El efecto del acto de competencia desleal sobre los competidores efectivos o potenciales, sobre otros agentes que participan del proceso competitivo y sobre los consumidores o usuarios;

g) La duración en el tiempo del acto de competencia desleal; y,

h) La reincidencia o la reiteración en la comisión de un acto de competencia desleal.

Artículo 58º.-Indemnización por daños y perjuicios.

58.1.- Cualquier perjudicado por actos de competencia desleal declarados por la Comisión o, en su caso, por el Tribunal, podrá demandar ante el Poder Judicial la pretensión civil de indemnización por daños y perjuicios contra los responsables identificados por el INDECOPI.

58.2.- Quienes hayan sido denunciados temeraria o falsamente, con dolo o negligencia, también podrán ejercitar dicha acción.

Artículo 59º.- De niciones.

Para efectos de esta Ley se entenderá por:

a) Agencia de publicidad: a toda persona, natural

o jurídica, que brinde servicios de diseño, confección, organización y/o ejecución de anuncios y otras prestaciones publicitarias;

b) Anuncio: a la unidad de difusión publicitaria;

c) Anunciante: a toda persona, natural o jurídica, que desarrolla actos cuyo efecto o fi nalidad directa o indirecta sea concurrir en el mercado y que, por medio de la difusión de publicidad, se propone: i) ilustrar al público, entre otros, acerca de la naturaleza, características, propiedades o atributos de los bienes o servicios cuya producción, intermediación o prestación constituye el objeto de su actividad; o, ii) motivar transacciones para satisfacer sus intereses empresariales;

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d) Publicidad: a toda forma de comunicación difundida a través de cualquier medio o soporte, y objetivamente apta o dirigida a promover, directa o indirectamente, la imagen, marcas, productos o servicios de una persona, empresa

e) Campaña publicitaria: a los anuncios difundidos, en un mismo espacio geográfico y temporal, por el mismo anunciante, a través de diversos medios tales como televisión, radio, catálogos de ventas, folletos, diarios, revistas, paneles e Internet, entre otros, respecto de los mismos productos y presentando el mismo mensaje publicitario principal;

f) Medio de comunicación social: a toda persona, natural o jurídica, que brinde servicios en cualquiera de las formas a través de las cuales es factible difundir publicidad, ya sea de manera personalizada

g) Norma de difusión: a toda norma referida a las características, modalidades y prohibiciones de la divulgación al público de la publicidad, con excepción de aquéllas referidas a la ubicación física de anuncios, las cuales tienen finalidad de orden urbanístico y no de regulación del mensaje publicitario;

h) Promoción de ventas: a toda aquella acción destinada a incentivar la transacción sobre bienes o servicios en condiciones de oferta excepcionales y temporales, que aparecen como más ventajosas respecto de las condiciones de la oferta ordinaria o estándar. Puede consistir en reducción de precios, incremento de cantidad, concursos, sorteos, canjes u otros similares;

i) Publicidad en producto: a toda publicidad fijada en el empaque, en el envase o en el cuerpo del producto. El rotulado no tiene naturaleza publicitaria, por lo que al no considerarse publicidad en producto está fuera del ámbito de aplicación de esta Ley;

j) Publicidad testimonial: a toda publicidad que puede ser percibida por el consumidor como una manifestación de las opiniones, creencias, descubrimientos o experiencias de un testigo, a causa de que se identifique el nombre de la persona que realiza el testimonial o ésta sea identificable por su fama o notoriedad pública;

k) Rotulado: a la información básica comercial, consistente en los datos, instructivos, antecedentes

l) Testigo: a toda persona natural o jurídica, de derecho público o privado, distinta del anunciante, cuyas opiniones, creencias, descubrimientos o experiencias son presentadas en publicidad.

PRIMERA.- Competencia primaria.

El control de las conductas desleales se encuentra regido por el principio de competencia primaria, el cual corresponde al INDECOPI y al Organismo Supervisor de la Inversión Privada en Telecomunicaciones - OSIPTEL, según lo establecido en las leyes respectivas. No podrá recurrirse al Poder Judicial sin antes haber agotado las instancias administrativas ante dichos organismos.

PRIMERA.- Derogación genérica.-

Esta Ley es de orden público y deroga todas las