Directive 2014/104 establishes that any person who has suffered harm caused by a competition law infringement may claim full compensation for that harm. This includes the possibility of indirect claims, which arise when those that are not directly affected by such an infringement (notably, indirect purchasers) are nevertheless harmed as a result of changes in the behaviour of directly affected firms (the direct purchasers) as well as, potentially, other intermediate firms.

EU countries allow individuals and companies to claim compensation for the harm suffered as a result of an infringement of the competition rules. Injured parties are allowed to seek compensation for both the actual loss suffered and for the gain of which they have been deprived plus interest. Awarding compensation is exclusively in the domain of national courts and civil law.