Prof. Dr. Dieter Ahlert: Since 1975, Full Professor of Business Administration at the University of Muenster, Germany. Foundation member of the Marketing Center Muenster (MCM). Director of the Department of Retailing and Network Marketing (IfHM) as well as the International Center of Franchising and Cooperation (F&C). Foundation member of the Network Governance Commission. For more than 35 years, Professor Ahlert and his research team have investigated the antitrust and economic problems associated with vertical marketing. Dipl.-Kfm. Benjamin Schefer: Research assistant at the Department of Retailing and Network Marketing (IfHM) since May 2009. General manager of the Research Center for General and Textile Market Economy (FATM). His research focus mainly on the antitrust and economic problems associated with vertical marketing.

• Introduction to the current problem.- The myth that welfare is promoted by prohibiting vertical price and brand maintenance.- The risk of Resale Price Mainenance prohibition for the effectiveness of inter-brand competition.- The risk of admissible price-maintenance systems for the effectiveness of inter-brand competition.- Competition-policy implications.- Management Summary: 'The Liberation of the Value Chain from Cartel-Law Restraints'.

Prof. Dr. Dieter Ahlert: Since 1975, Full Professor of Business Administration at the University of Muenster, Germany. Foundation member of the Marketing Center Muenster (MCM). Director of the Department of Retailing and Network Marketing (IfHM) as well as the International Center of Franchising and Cooperation (F&C). Foundation member of the Network Governance Commission. For more than 35 years, Professor Ahlert and his research team have investigated the antitrust and economic problems associated with vertical marketing. Dipl.-Kfm. Benjamin Schefer: Research assistant at the Department of Retailing and Network Marketing (IfHM) since May 2009. General manager of the Research Center for General and Textile Market Economy (FATM). His research focus mainly on the antitrust and economic problems associated with vertical marketing.

• Introduction to the current problem.- The myth that welfare is promoted by prohibiting vertical price and brand maintenance.- The risk of Resale Price Mainenance prohibition for the effectiveness of inter-brand competition.- The risk of admissible price-maintenance systems for the effectiveness of inter-brand competition.- Competition-policy implications.- Management Summary: 'The Liberation of the Value Chain from Cartel-Law Restraints'.

Prof. Dr. Dieter Ahlert: Since 1975, Full Professor of Business Administration at the University of Muenster, Germany. Foundation member of the Marketing Center Muenster (MCM). Director of the Department of Retailing and Network Marketing (IfHM) as well as the International Center of Franchising and Cooperation (F&C). Foundation member of the Network Governance Commission. For more than 35 years, Professor Ahlert and his research team have investigated the antitrust and economic problems associated with vertical marketing. Dipl.-Kfm. Benjamin Schefer: Research assistant at the Department of Retailing and Network Marketing (IfHM) since May 2009. General manager of the Research Center for General and Textile Market Economy (FATM). His research focus mainly on the antitrust and economic problems associated with vertical marketing.

• Introduction to the current problem.- The myth that welfare is promoted by prohibiting vertical price and brand maintenance.- The risk of Resale Price Mainenance prohibition for the effectiveness of inter-brand competition.- The risk of admissible price-maintenance systems for the effectiveness of inter-brand competition.- Competition-policy implications.- Management Summary: 'The Liberation of the Value Chain from Cartel-Law Restraints'.