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Asus faces EU probe for online price fixing

by Mark Tyson on 3 February 2017, 11:01

Tags: European Commission, ASUSTeK (TPE:2357), Valve

Quick Link: HEXUS.net/qaddyk

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Yesterday the European Commission opened up a series of investigations into suspected anticompetitive practices by several companies operating within Europe. Among the companies named are such tech favourites as; Asus, Philips, Valve/Steam, Bandai Namco, Capcom, and Zenimax.

Consumer electronics

Asus, Denon & Marantz, Philips and Pioneer are under investigation for "restricting the ability of online retailers to set their own prices." Manufacturer imposed price restrictions plus online retailer pricing matching systems would have had an impact not only on the products from the named producers but also of similar competitive products reckons the EC.

Video Games

This investigation is looking at bilateral agreements between Valve/Steam and five PC game publishers that work with it; Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media and ZeniMax.

The EC wants to determine whether any of the companies involved are using, or have used, the activation process to geo-block certain EU member states. The EC says that allowing access to a purchased game only in particular member states might be against EU competition rules. Preventing consumers for buying cheaper games in other member states of the EU is restricting cross border competition or 'parallel trade'.

Wolfenstein: a Zenimax title

We don't know how long the EC investigations will take but it's good to know that it is looking into these companies which are suspected of preventing, restricting or distorting competition within the EU's Single Market.



HEXUS Forums :: 8 Comments

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So… Zenimax won't be holding onto the $500m they just won from Oculus, then?
Finally. Tired of trying to buy games from other EU members countries and to be automatically redirected to the one I am in. Effing scumbags…
It will be corrected…no more cheaper games in other countries…
darcotech
It will be corrected…no more cheaper games in other countries…
And forget about sales there? HAHA right, russian market is way too big for corporate greed to ignore. They just wont block it the same they are now, probably doing something else, bypassing the rule.
aniilv
darcotech
It will be corrected…no more cheaper games in other countries…
And forget about sales there? HAHA right, russian market is way too big for corporate greed to ignore. They just wont block it the same they are now, probably doing something else, bypassing the rule.


Let's hope…anyway with Humble Bundle and other sites I am now at 50 games not even installed… :-(