Zuwendungen im geschäftlichen Verkehr

Present paper addresses the question whether taking or giving bribes in commercial practice are allowed or not. After the existing solutions (social adequacy, de minimis principle, advantage concept) are discarded, the proposal of the paper is to outline Sec. 299 (German criminal code) on the criterion of “unfairness”, by attribution of its independent significance. By determination of the legal interest "competition as an institution", the interpretation of this criterion is conducted. Up next, an evaluation of relevant corporate and government policies follows. A facts specification of “unfairness” then results from the criteria developed, i.e. "low-value" of the benefit, “adequacy", "rules of politeness" and "transparency" of the advantages granted, with the sub-points "documentation" and "disclosure" (internal – to the compliance department - as well as external) This forms a valuable basis for the future development of the criminal policy of the criminal law on corruption.