On Wednesday, the European Union opened an investigation of U.S. producer Corning over attainable anti-competitive practices. Corning will not be a reputation that’s tremendous acquainted to the common tech shopper, however you might be nearly definitely inside touching distance of its merchandise as its a number one provider of speciality toughened glass for cell gadgets, together with Apple’s iPhone. Its Gorilla Glass branding might also be a contact extra acquainted.
In a press release, the Fee mentioned it’s involved that Corning could have abused a dominant place for international provide of protecting glass screens for handheld digital gadgets, which can have resulted in distorted competitors. Within the Fee’s personal phrases, Corning signed “anti-competitive unique provide agreements” with cell phone producers and corporations that course of uncooked glass (also called OEMs and finishers, respectively).
“The Fee is worried that the agreements that Corning put in place with OEMs and finishers could have excluded rival glass producers from giant segments of the market, thereby lowering buyer alternative, rising costs, and stifling innovation to the detriment of shoppers worldwide,” the EU wrote.
The Fee mentioned it is going to now perform an in-depth investigation as a matter of precedence. There’s no fastened timeline for concluding such a probe so it stays to be seen whether or not or not the EU will verify any breach. But when it does, penalties for competitors violations might be as much as 10% of worldwide income.
Corning has been contacted for touch upon the EU investigation.
Trending Merchandise