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

btarunr · Jul 25, 2012

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.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

Crap Daddy · Jul 25, 2012

Why am I not surprised?

LAN_deRf_HA · Jul 25, 2012

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

imitation · Jul 25, 2012

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$$ · Jul 25, 2012

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 · Jul 25, 2012

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

qubit · Jul 25, 2012

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

hardcore_gamer · Jul 25, 2012

Why are they not going after HDD makers ?

FordGT90Concept · Jul 25, 2012

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

Bo$$ · Jul 25, 2012

FordGT90Concept said:
The EU is sniffing out someone else to extort because, apparently, the Intel and Microsoft money ran out.

Investigative fixing

Intels new investment

DigitalUK · Jul 25, 2012

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 · Jul 25, 2012

Wow the EU must be really broke.

largon · Jul 25, 2012

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 · Jul 25, 2012

kill that MFK that fix the price...

Sasqui · Jul 25, 2012

LAN_deRf_HA said:
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 · Jul 25, 2012

largon said:
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 · Jul 25, 2012

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

reverze · Jul 25, 2012

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

ironwolf · Jul 25, 2012

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

Melvis · Jul 25, 2012

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

pantherx12 · Jul 25, 2012

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

Teiji · Jul 26, 2012

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

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

btarunr

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