“California’s unfair competition law (Bus. & Prof.C. § 17200 et seq.) “is a notoriously broad statute.” [Flamingo Indus. (USA) Ltd. v. United States Postal Service (9th Cir. 2002) 302 F3d 985, rev’d on other grounds by United States Postal Service v. Flamingo Indus. (USA) Ltd. (2004) 540 US 736, 124 S.Ct. 1321] But despite that breadth, the UCL has a remarkably simple structure. There are just three statutory provisions of consequence, plus several ancillary sections. The three important provisions are: a. Section 17200: The only substantive provision is Bus. & Prof.C. § 17200. But it does not prohibit anything. Rather, it simply provides a definition of what constitutes “unfair competition.” That definition controls the substantive reach of the statute. b. Section 17203: An important companion provision is § 17203, which authorizes courts to enjoin, and to enter other equitable orders, necessary to prevent “unfair competition” as that term is defined in § 17200. c. Section 17204: Section 17204 sets forth who may sue. UCL’s Purpose: The major purpose of Bus. & Prof.C. § 17200 is the “preservation of fair business competition.” [Cel-Tech Communications, Inc. v. Los Angeles Cellular Telephone Co. (1999) 20 C4th 163, 180, 83 CR2d 548, 560-561; Walker v. Countrywide Home Loans, Inc. (2002) 98 CA4th 1158, 1169, 121 CR2d 79, 86]”
[Business & Professions Code Section 17200 Practice [certain citations omitted]]
