Unfair competition – an attack on the patrimonial rights of natural and legal persons

The subjects of the economic activity, whether they are natural persons or legal entities, are obliged to exercise their activity in good faith, according to honest usages, respecting the interests of consumers and the requirements of fair competition. Based on the principles of freedom of trade and freedom of competition, any merchant has the right to attract the clientele of his competitors. Thus, the act of competition, even if it causes damage to some economic agents, is not illegal by itself, but only if the means, acts or facts used to attract customers are unfair. A basic principle/inherent condition of the market economy is the competition between the companies carrying out economic activity on the respective market, of course when this competition is by the customs and provisions governing the rivalry of competitors. The present study is intended to analyze the phenomenon of competition through the legislation of the Republic of Moldova that regulates competitive relations, including, addressing issues related to the identification and responsibility of the actors/ subjects of competitive relations, the types of legal liability, and the impact of unfair competition on the competitive environment in general and, on the rights and interests of natural and legal persons, but also of the society in particular. The authors analyzed the provisions of competition legislation to identify the regulatory framework's quality and its deficiencies. For this purpose, the authors analyzed the provisions of the competition law no. 183/2012 and the Republic of Moldova's administrative, contraventional, and criminal Code. The conclusions reached by the authors revealed a series of legislative loopholes, but also new research directions that would constitute the basis for certain recommendations and proposals for improving the analyzed normative framework.