In Europe vertical relationships have for a long time undergone a rigid regime shaped after the suspicion that Community efforts aiming at eliminating national barriers could be neutralized by distribution contracts (and IPR licenses). This inhospitality came to an end with the more economically oriented discipline introduced by reg. No, 2790/1999, now superseded by Reg. No. 330/10. Though still far from the prevailing U.S. attitude, the European approach exhibits, as of now, a more committed attention to salient economic features of the relationships between firms operating at different stages along the distribution channels. Some inconsistecies, nonetheless, do persist.