On Wednesday, the European Union opened an investigation of U.S. producer Corning over doable anti-competitive practices. Corning might not be a reputation that’s tremendous acquainted to the typical tech client, however you’re nearly actually inside touching distance of its merchandise as its a number one provider of speciality toughened glass for cellular gadgets, together with Apple’s iPhone. Its Gorilla Glass branding may additionally be a contact extra acquainted.
In a press release, the Fee mentioned it’s involved that Corning might have abused a dominant place for world 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 firms that course of uncooked glass (also referred to as OEMs and finishers, respectively).
“The Fee is anxious that the agreements that Corning put in place with OEMs and finishers might have excluded rival glass producers from giant segments of the market, thereby decreasing buyer alternative, growing costs, and stifling innovation to the detriment of shoppers worldwide,” the EU wrote.
The Fee mentioned it’s 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 world income.
Corning has been contacted for touch upon the EU investigation.
