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Sharp, Hitachi accused of DS price fixing
Author: Joe MartinPublished: 28th February 2008
In Japan, Hitachi and Sharp have been accused of price fixing for Nintendo DS hardware.
Nintendo out-sources many of the components in the Nintendo DS and DS Lite and Hitachi and Sharp are responsible for making the LCD screens used in the handheld.
This reliance on outside companies though obviously means that Nintendo is susceptible to price-fixing and the Japanese raid was organised after suspicions were raised.
None of the parties involved - Sharp, Hitachi, Nintendo or the regulators - have released an official statement yet.
So, what does this mean for customers? Probably not a lot. If Sharp and Hitachi are cleared of all charges then nothing will happen. If they are found guilty on the other hand then hardware prices will probably be lowered for Nintendo - though there's pretty much no chance that this would equal a lower price for customers.
Think that Sharp and Hitachi are guilty? How is it even possible to punish corporations of such a size? Let us know your thoughts in the forums.
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Comments (3)
Solidus 28th February 2008, 10:36
Well you would think production costs for such things would have lowered considering the amount of DS's that have been sold!
hawky84 28th February 2008, 11:12
anymore news on the supposed new DS?
Kufwit 28th February 2008, 17:20
Definitely we should be looking at better weays of punishing these companies other than multi million pound/euro/dollar fines. Its been in the paper all week, MS, Network rail. I mean come on, they don't pay the fines, we do through higher prices.
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