OREANDA-NEWS.  June 18, 2014. Moscow Arbitration Court dismissed a claim of “Argus-Spektr” CJSC on protecting business reputation and collecting one million RUB from the Federal Antimonopoly Service (FAS Russia).

In the plaintiff’s opinion, its business reputation was harmed by publishing a press-release on FAS web-site about a Court judgment confirming legitimacy of an unscheduled on-site inspection of “Argus-Spektr” CJSC. At the web-site, FAS also published an article asking participants of the market of fire-fighting systems to report on the known to them signs of violating the antimonopoly law. According to the plaintiff, it could also harm its business reputation.

At the court hearing, the Ministry of Emergencies also filed a claim to protect its public interests and attempted to joint the case as a co-plaintiff. The Court, however, dismissed the claim of the Ministry of Emergencies.

The FAS position was based on verifying the data published at the web-site because true information cannot constitute the grounds for allowing a claim on protecting business reputation. The Court agreed with the FAS position and dismissed the claim of “Argus-Spektr” CJSC.

“The Court judgment not only proved that the claim was groundless but also confirmed credibility of the information published at the official FAS web-site”, pointed out the Head of FAS Anti-Cartel Department, Andrey Tenischev.