Intellectual Property Law

Sharp Feels Sharp Pain

By Chris Bennett, Tudor Carsten, Michael R. Coburn, Sarah Dale-Harris, Pablo Guzman, Danielle (Dani) Lemon, Chris Metcalfe and David Spratley

It has been reported by PC World that Japan's Fair Trade Commission (the FTC) has slapped Sharp with a fine of over $2.9 million pursuant to Japan's Antimonopoly Act, to be paid by March 19, 2009. An investigation into price-fixing of LCD modules that are used in the Nintendo DS resulted in this fine. It has also been reported that a cease-and-desist notice has been sent by the FTC to Sharp in relation to LCD modules sold to Nintendo from January to March 2007, for the DS Lite.

However, it is reported that Sharp denies having maliciously violated Japan's Antimonopoly Act, stating the following: ??oeWe understand there is no precedent in Japan that a cartel in violation of Antimonopoly Act was found for a specific product which was sold to one private company for use of a single product model'.

Coverage at GameDaily.com

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Full post as published by Video Game Law Blog on December 23, 2008 (boomark / email).