Technology news and Jobs arrow VIRTUALISATION arrow Microsoft fined 9m euros for price-fixing
Microsoft fined 9m euros for price-fixing E-mail
by Sam Varghese   
Thursday, 09 April 2009
Microsoft has been fined €9 million by the German competition authority for collusion with retailers to set the prices of Office Home and Student 2007.

In a statement, the authority, known as Bundeskartellamt, said the fine had been imposed because the American software company had "influenced the resale price of the software package 'Office Home & Student 2007' in an anti-competitive manner."

It said the product had been heavily advertised in in retail stationary  outlets during the autumn of 2008 .

"Amongst others, a nationwide active retailer advertised the product with financial support from Microsoft," it said.

"Even before the launch of the advertising campaign in mid-October 2008, employees of Microsoft and the retailer in question had agreed on at least two occasions on the resale price of the software package."

The authority added that contacts between supplier and retailer regarding resale prices should not lead to co-ordination where the supplier actively tried to co-ordinate the pricing activities of the retailer and the retailer and supplier agreed on the retailer's future actions.

"In the present case, this boundary has been crossed," it said, adding that Microsoft had accepted the fine.
Powered By Joomla Tags

Please enable JavaScript in your browser to post your comment!

 
< Next story in category   Previous story in the category >
iTWire user statistics Visitors last 30 days
694,279
Subscribers 15,210
#1 independent technology news advertise here
  •   *  
  • Search
  • AdvSeach
  • Login
  • Events
  • FreeStuff

- Advertisement -

Featured Whitepapers

Follow iTWire on Twitter

About iTWire

iTWire is all about technology news, information, jobs and community for the IT and telecommunications industry professional. Subscribe to our free ICT daily newsletter