• Today prizes in the competition of the President of UOKiK for the best master and doctoral theses were given.
• Congratulations to the winners from the University of Warsaw, the University of Łódź and the University of Rzeszów.
• Next competitions and anti-trust workshop are waiting for students of the Summer Camp UOKiK ’25. We are inviting you to join us!

The 16th edition of the competition of the President of UOKiK for the best master’s thesis on competition protection, the 14th one for the best master’s thesis on consumer protection and fourth one for the best doctoral dissertation are over. We have received a record-breaking number of submissions. Out of 60 studies, 10 best ones were honoured, of which a majority was written at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw. The topics of the theses concerned, among other things: influencer marketing, energy industry, co-operational collusions and anti-competitive personal unions in corporate bodies.

- My warm congratulations to the winners, promoters and universities! I am deeply satisfied to see extensive interest in our competitions - for master’s theses, doctoral dissertations as well as for Summer Camp workshop. This is not only the competition of the best, this is not only the theory. This is an actual opportunity to start your professional career at UOKiK and have an actual impact on the market protection and consumer well-being. Congratulations to the winners again and let me encourage you to take part in our initiatives - says Tomasz Chróstny, the President of UOKiK.

The partner of the competition is the Polish Competition Law Association, whereas its patron is the Polish Economic Society.

This is what counts

The Competition Juries, composed of some outstanding members of academia and practicians of the competition and consumer protections law, appreciated the following elements in particular: the unique nature of the topic, challenging theses, logical argumentation, quality of analyses as well as methodology and selection of literature, especially foreign one.

Master’s theses - competition

The 1st prize and PLN 7 thousand was given to Zofia Zborowska for her thesis titled: “Prohibition of competition-restricting practices in the light of sustainable development rule on the basis of an example of horizontal co-operational arrangements”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw under the supervision of Prof. dr hab. Robert Grzeszczak.

The 2nd prize and PLN 5 thousand was given to Maciej Gardzielik for his thesis titled: “Contractual control acquisition - selected aspects”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw under the supervision of dr hab. Marta Litwińska-Werner. The winner additionally received a Polish Competition Law Association - SPK distinction of PLN 5 thousand.

The 3rd prize and PLN 3 thousand was given to Piotr Oliński for his thesis titled: “Position in the system of energy industry-governing bodies in Poland - the issue of independence”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw under the supervision of dr hab. Adam Szafrański.

A distinction was given to Kamil Weber for his thesis titled: “Disclosing evidence as part of private competition law enforcement in the light of EU jurisdiction”, which was developed in the Social Sciences College of the University of Rzeszów at dr hab. Jan Olszewski, Prof. of the University of Rzeszów.

Master’s theses - consumers

The 1st prize and PLN 7 thousand was given to Małgorzata Krzemińska for her thesis titled: “Consumer protection from unfair influencer marketing in EU laws. Between hard law and soft law”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Łódź under the supervision of Prof. dr hab. Monika Namysłowska.

A distinction was given to Urszula Grębowska for her thesis titled: “Influencer marketing: an obligation to tag advertising content in social media in the light of the practice of the President of UOKiK”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw under the supervision of Prof. dr hab. Robert Grzeszczak.

Distinctions of the Polish Competition Law Association in the field of consumer protection was given to Małgorzata Giermakowska for her thesis titled: “Influencer advertising activity vis-a-vis subjective scope of responsibility for violating competition laws”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration under the supervision of dr Małgorzata Modrzejewska.

Doctoral theses - competition

The 1st prize and PLN 10 thousand was given to Adrian Bielecki for his thesis titled: “Counteracting anti-competitive personal unions in company bodies in Polish, EU and American laws”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw under the supervision of Prof. of the University of Warsaw dr hab. Cezary Banasiński.

The 2nd prize and PLN 7 thousand was given to Marcin Kamiński for his thesis titled: “The role of EU competition protection laws in the liberalisation and changes in the energy industry”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw under the supervision of dr hab. Adam Szafrański.

A distinction was given to Aleksander Braksator for his thesis titled: “Anti-trust responsibility of standard essential patterns holders”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw under the supervision of dr hab. Cezary Banasiński.

Doctoral dissertation - consumers

A distinction was given to Justyna Nowak for her thesis titled: “Self-governing and co-governing on foodstuff markets - between the actual consumer protection and appearance of entrepreneurs’ operations”, which was developed at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Łódź under the supervision of Prof. dr hab. Monika Namysłowska.

More prizes await

Next editions of the competitions of the President of UOKiK for the best master and doctoral theses in Polish and English begin. The prize pool is: PLN 84,000, paid graduate internship and publication as part of the UOKiK Library. We are inviting you to join us! Detailed information is available at uokik.gov.pl/en/ma-phd-thesis.

Apply for the Summer Camp!

Until 16 June, you may apply online for the Summer Camp UOKiK ’25 workshop in anti-trust law. Are you a student of at least second year in law, economics or related faculties? Write an essay, record a video and win a 5-day participation in September workshop in Warsaw. You are encouraged to join us! Details can be found at uokik.gov.pl/en/summer-camp.