Active sales refers to canvassing carried out outside a reserved area or of a customer group reserved for third parties. Such sales are typically prohibited in exclusive distribution networks, in which resellers benefit from territories protected from competition from other members of the network, in return for investments made to develop the brand. It is also found in certain franchise networks where franchisees benefit from territorial exclusivity. In selective distribution networks, on the other hand, the prohibition on active sales provides absolute territorial protection which is deemed contrary to Article L. 420-1 of the Commercial Code. It also rules out the benefit of the<em> de minimis</em> rule under Article L. 464-6-1 of the Commercial Code which means that the practice is subject to review regardless of the market share of the parties to the agreement (Commercial Code, Article L. 464-6-2, c).
