European Commission Goes After 13 Optical Drive Makers for Price-Fixing

[btarunr]

Optical disc drives are components buyers are least bothered about, when purchasing parts to build a PC, or replace a broken one. The EU's regulators have found something fishy even with companies making these roughly-20€ PC components. According to the European Commission (EC), 13 optical disc drive vendors may have conspired to fix prices of their products on a global scale, and that affects European consumers, as well.

The EC is investigating 13 drive suppliers, and 2 major PC OEMs (pre-built PC vendors), for conducting and participating in what is known as bid rigging scheme, a serious antitrust violation. In bid rigging schemes, the bidders and contractees conspire to rig their prices so that a particular supplier wins the bid. Penalties for such a violation include 10% of worldwide turnover set as fines.



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[Crap Daddy]

Why am I not surprised?

 

[LAN_deRf_HA]

Is this just for bluray drives or are dvd burners about to hit $10?

 

[imitation]

Did y'all know that, at least in Germany, 10.68€ of those 20€ are fees that the "VG Bild" gets? So after taxes and reseller profits, the actual (import) price of the drive is more like 5€ - i don't think that that even qualifies for price fixing accusations.

 

[Bo$$]

it's nice how we as customers get ripped off with price fixing scams but the government will take and keep the fines.... Fucking awesome idea not like they got raped.

I want MY share of the 10% turnover fines!!

 

[Shou Miko]

i hope justice will be made and we will get cheaper Blu-Ray drives across the world ^^

 

[qubit]

I don't see how a group of large and powerful companies could come together to fix prices?

 

[hardcore_gamer]

Why are they not going after HDD makers ?

 

[FordGT90Concept]

The EU is sniffing out someone else to extort because, apparently, the Intel and Microsoft money ran out.

 

[Bo$$]

The EU is sniffing out someone else to extort because, apparently, the Intel and Microsoft money ran out.

Investigative fixing

Intels new investment

 

[DigitalUK]

ive always thought optical drives are very reasonable except blu ray which doesnt seem to move much (sony owns patient), im sure the harddrive manufacurers will soon follow next.

 

[TheMailMan78]

Wow the EU must be really broke.

 

[largon]

To the trolls:
Nah, the EU is doing just fine. Except for those few select corrupt southern parts, we others for some reason are obliged to uphold.
Now let's all thank US' beloved & oh so unregulated* economy for this economical crisis.
->
Thankyouverymuch!


*regulation is a good thing, you know

 

[adrianx]

kill that MFK that fix the price...

 

[Sasqui]

Is this just for bluray drives or are dvd burners about to hit $10?

DVD burners are rediculously cheap as it is, last ones I bought were less than $20 each.

Suspect it's Poo-Ray, and I'm sure Sony has a hand in it too.

 

[TheMailMan78]

To the trolls:
Nah, the EU is doing just fine. Except for those few select corrupt southern parts, we others for some reason are obliged to uphold.
Now let's all thank US' beloved & oh so unregulated* economy for this economical crisis.
->
Thankyouverymuch!


*regulation is a good thing, you know

lol Our housing market collapsed your economy? Sound pretty weak to me if a foreclosed condo can cripple an international economy.

 

[largon]

Time for you to start reading about the matter (and possibly stop watching FOX News.)

 

[reverze]

perfect, more money to spend on wellfare. We need to find more targets.

 

[ironwolf]

Wow, any major sector of the IT industry that has *not* gotten their nutz in a vice by someone over price-fixing?

 

[Melvis]

interesting, not that i care as there cheap enough as it is, and will fade out anyway, so meh

 

[pantherx12]

Is this why a basic one has been £15 for like ... well 5 years or something now?

 

[Teiji]

Pretty sure Blu-ray are consider optical drives too. So we might see cheaper Blu-ray drives soon! Wooooooo