Magnusson Law successfully represented Tapwell before the Patent and Market Court of Appeal

Magnusson has represented Tapwell in a landmark competition law dispute, securing a complete victory before the Swedish Patent and Market Court of Appeal. The Court overturned both the judgment of the lower court and the Swedish Competition Authority’s decision in their entirety.

In 2021, the Swedish Competition Authority launched an investigation into Tapwell, a well known Swedish brand specialising in bathroom and kitchen fittings, following a dawn raid at the company’s premises. The Authority alleged that Tapwell had restricted the pricing of its online retailers through arrangements, in breach of the Swedish Competition Act and the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Specifically, Tapwell was accused of implementing a pricing policy prohibiting retailers from marketing or selling its products at prices more than ten per cent below the recommended retail price, constituting so called vertical resale price maintenance.

In December 2023, the Swedish Competition Authority imposed a competition fine of almost SEK 17 million on Tapwell. The company appealed the decision to the Patent and Market Court, which dismissed the appeal in March 2025. Despite this setback, Tapwell chose to pursue the matter before the Patent and Market Court of Appeal. Following nine days of oral hearings and six weeks of deliberation, the Court concluded that the Swedish Competition Authority had failed to meet the required standard of proof.

The judgment, which is final and cannot be appealed, overturns both the Competition Authority’s decision and the lower court’s judgment in full. Tapwell was also awarded compensation for the majority of its legal costs.

Magnusson represented Tapwell throughout the proceedings. The team was led by lawyers Ulf Djurberg, Magnus Jonson and Oskar Törngren.

For further information, please contact Ulf Djurberg on +46 70 622 98 60.