Unfair commercial practices
Unfair commercial practices are market behaviours that distort competition or consumer choice through deception, coercion, exploitation, or bad faith.
Swiss law addresses unfair commercial practices mainly through unfair competition rules protecting competitors, consumers, and the public interest in honest markets. Examples include misleading statements, aggressive sales methods, bait advertising, imitation causing confusion, misuse of general terms, and unfair comparative advertising. The assessment looks at the overall market conduct and its capacity to influence economic decisions. Remedies may include injunctions, declaratory relief, publication of judgments, damages, and criminal consequences for specified conduct. Comparative consumer regimes often classify practices as misleading, aggressive, or otherwise unfair.