lcd panel price fixing brands

The TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litigationclass-action lawsuit regarding the worldwide conspiracy to coordinate the prices of Thin-Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) panels, which are used to make laptop computers, computer monitors and televisions, between 1999 and 2006. In March 2010, Judge Susan Illston certified two nationwide classes of persons and entities that directly and indirectly purchased TFT-LCDs – for panel purchasers and purchasers of TFT-LCD integrated products; the litigation was followed by multiple suits.

TFT-LCDs are used in flat-panel televisions, laptop and computer monitors, mobile phones, personal digital assistants, semiconductors and other devices;

In mid-2006, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division requested FBI assistance in investigating LCD price-fixing. In December 2006, authorities in Japan, Korea, the European Union and the United States revealed a probe into alleged anti-competitive activity among LCD panel manufacturers.

The companies involved, which later became the Defendants, were Taiwanese companies AU Optronics (AUO), Chi Mei, Chunghwa Picture Tubes (Chunghwa), and HannStar; Korean companies LG Display and Samsung; and Japanese companies Hitachi, Sharp and Toshiba.cartel which took place between January 1, 1999, through December 31, 2006, and which was designed to illegally reduce competition and thus inflate prices for LCD panels. The companies exchanged information on future production planning, capacity use, pricing and other commercial conditions.European Commission concluded that the companies were aware they were violating competition rules, and took steps to conceal the venue and results of the meetings; a document by the conspirators requested everybody involved "to take care of security/confidentiality matters and to limit written communication".

This price-fixing scheme manipulated the playing field for businesses that abide by the rules, and left consumers to pay artificially higher costs for televisions, computers and other electronics.

Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracy, as direct victims of the cartel, were some of the largest computer, television and cellular telephone manufacturers in the world. These direct action plaintiffs included AT&T Mobility, Best Buy,Costco Wholesale Corporation, Good Guys, Kmart Corp, Motorola Mobility, Newegg, Sears, and Target Corp.Clayton Act (15 U.S.C. § 26) to prevent Defendants from violating Section 1 of the Sherman Act (15 U.S.C. § 1), as well as (b) 23 separate state-wide classes based on each state"s antitrust/consumer protection class action law.

In November 2008, LG, Chunghwa, Hitachi, Epson, and Chi Mei pleaded guilty to criminal charges of fixing prices of TFT-LCD panels sold in the U.S. and agreed to pay criminal fines (see chart).

The South Korea Fair Trade Commission launched legal proceedings as well. It concluded that the companies involved met more than once a month and more than 200 times from September 2001 to December 2006, and imposed fines on the LCD manufacturers.

Sharp Corp. pleaded guilty to three separate conspiracies to fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels sold to Dell Inc., Apple Computer Inc. and Motorola Inc., and was sentenced to pay a $120 million criminal fine,

Seven executives from Japanese and South Korean LCD companies were indicted in the U.S. Four were charged with participating as co-conspirators in the conspiracy and sentenced to prison terms – including LG"s Vice President of Monitor Sales, Chunghwa"s chairman, its chief executive officer, and its Vice President of LCD Sales – for "participating in meetings, conversations and communications in Taiwan, South Korea and the United States to discuss the prices of TFT-LCD panels; agreeing during these meetings, conversations and communications to charge prices of TFT-LCD panels at certain predetermined levels; issuing price quotations in accordance with the agreements reached; exchanging information on sales of TFT-LCD panels for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the agreed-upon prices; and authorizing, ordering and consenting to the participation of subordinate employees in the conspiracy."

On December 8, 2010, the European Commission announced it had fined six of the LCD companies involved in a total of €648 million (Samsung Electronics received full immunity under the commission"s 2002 Leniency Notice) – LG Display, AU Optronics, Chimei, Chunghwa Picture and HannStar Display Corporation.

On July 3, 2012, a U.S. federal jury ruled that the remaining defendant, Toshiba Corporation, which denied any wrongdoing, participated in the conspiracy to fix prices of TFT-LCDs and returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff class. Following the trial, Toshiba agreed to resolve the case by paying the class $30 million.

(Reuters) - Samsung Electronics Co, Sharp Corp and five other makers of liquid crystal displays agreed to pay more than $553 million to settle consumer and state regulatory claims that they conspired to fix prices for LCD panels in televisions, notebook computers and monitors.A worker prepares a display of Sharp flat panel televisions for the 2009 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, January 7, 2009. REUTERS/Steve Marcus

The settlement is the latest arising from lawsuits alleging the creation of an international cartel designed to illegally inflate prices and stifle competition in LCD panels between 1999 and 2006, affecting billions of dollars of U.S. commerce.

In December 2006, authorities in Japan, Korea, the European Union and the United States revealed a probe into alleged anti-competitive activity among LCD panel manufacturers. Many companies and executives have since pleaded guilty to criminal antitrust violations and paid more than $890 million in fines.

The latest payout includes $538.6 million to resolve claims by “indirect” purchasers that bought televisions and computers with thin film transistor LCDs, as well as claims by eight states: Arkansas, California, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, New York, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

“This price-fixing scheme manipulated the playing field for businesses that abide by the rules, and left consumers to pay artificially higher costs for televisions, computers and other electronics,” Schneiderman said in a statement on Tuesday.

Other defendants have yet to settle, including Taiwan-based AU Optronics Corp, one of the largest LCD panel manufacturers; South Korea’s LG Display Co and Toshiba Corp.

The accord follows a settlement this month by eight companies, including Samsung and Sharp, to pay $388 million to settle litigation by direct purchasers of the LCD panels.

According to Bloomberg, which obtained court papers filed yesterday in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco, Sharp and Samsung paid $105 million and $82.7 million, respectively, for their alleged involvement in driving up prices for LCDs sold between 1999 and 2006. Chimei Innolux paid $78 million as part of the class action lawsuit"s settlement.

"They colluded on minimum prices of panels, pricing policies on each product type, timing of price increases, and a ban on cash rebates," the country"s Fair Trade Commission said at the time. "They were aware that such action was illegal, and kept their gatherings and information secret."

The alleged price fixing impacted several markets and a host of companies, including Dell, Motorola, and Apple. In 2009, AT&T and Nokia sued Samsung, LG Display, and other panel makers, alleging that the companies artificially inflated prices on LCD panels. Dell followed with a lawsuit of its own last year, taking aim at Sharp, Hitachi, Toshiba, and others, accusing the firms of collusion on LCD panel pricing.

The companies are accused of colluding to artificially inflate the prices of LFT LCD panel prices for seven years, starting in 1999. This is just the latest sanction in an ongoing series of lawsuits and probes that have brought against the cartel by consumers, state and federal governments, and international organizations since 2006. Of this settlement amount, $501 million will be used to issue partial refunds to consumers in 24 states who purchased products that used the offending panels between 1999 and 2006. The companies are also paying $37 million to government and other public agencies that purchased the panels.

“This price-fixing scheme manipulated the playing field for businesses that abide by the rules, and left consumers to pay artificially higher costs for televisions, computers and other electronics,” New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said in a statement.

So far, the companies and executives have racked up more than $890 million in fines, according to Reuters. In 2008, LG Display, Sharp and Chunghwa Picture Tubes plead guilty to criminal charges for the price fixing conspiracy and agreed to pay $585 million in fines. According to the Justice Department, the companies held meetings at which they agreed on a fixed price for the panels and exchanged sales information in order to keep the agreement in check.

WASHINGTON – A Thin-Film Transistor-Liquid Crystal Display (TFT-LCD) producer and seller has agreed to plead guilty and pay $220 million in criminal fines for its role in a conspiracy to fix prices in the sale of liquid crystal display panels, the Department of Justice announced today.

According to a one-count felony charge filed today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, Chi Mei Optoelectronics participated in a conspiracy to fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels sold worldwide from Sept. 14, 2001, to Dec. 1, 2006. According to the plea agreement, which is subject to court approval, Chi Mei has agreed to cooperate with the department’s ongoing antitrust investigation.

TFT-LCD panels are used in computer monitors and notebooks, televisions, mobile phones and other electronic devices. By the end of the conspiracy period, the worldwide market for TFT-LCD panels was valued at $70 billion. Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracy are some of the largest computer and television manufacturers in the world, including Apple, Dell and HP.

According to the charge, Chi Mei carried out the conspiracy by agreeing during meetings, conversations and communications to charge prices of TFT-LCD panels at certain pre-determined levels and issuing price quotations in accordance with the agreements reached. As a part of the conspiracy, Chi Mei exchanged information on sales of TFT-LCD panels for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the agreed-upon prices.

Chi Mei, which is based in Tainan, Taiwan, is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act. Each violation carries a maximum fine of $100 million for corporations. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.

Anyone with information concerning illegal conduct in the TFT-LCD industry is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office at 415-436-6660.

WASHINGTON - A Taiwan thin-film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panel producer and seller has agreed to plead guilty and to pay a $30 million criminal fine for its role in a global conspiracy to fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels, the Department of Justice announced today.

According to a one-count felony charge filed today in U.S. District Court in San Francisco, HannStar Display Corporation, based in Taipei, Taiwan, participated in a conspiracy from Sept. 14, 2001, to Jan. 31, 2006, to fix the prices of TFT-LCD panels sold worldwide. According to the plea agreement, which is subject to court approval, HannStar has agreed to cooperate with the department’s ongoing TFT-LCD investigation.

TFT-LCD panels are used in computer monitors and notebooks, televisions, mobile phones and other electronic devices. By the end of the conspiracy period, the worldwide market for TFT-LCD panels was valued at $70 billion. Companies directly affected by the LCD price-fixing conspiracy are some of the largest computer and television manufacturers in the world, including Apple, Dell and Hewlett Packard.

"The Antitrust Division has thus far charged seven companies and 17 executives as a result of its investigation into the LCD industry, and we are committed to vigorously prosecuting corporations and individuals who engage in this type of price fixing scheme," said Christine Varney, Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Department of Justice’s Antitrust Division.

According to the charge, HannStar carried out the conspiracy by agreeing during meetings, conversations and communications to charge prices of TFT-LCD panels at certain pre-determined levels and issuing price quotations in accordance with the agreements reached. As a part of the conspiracy, HannStar exchanged information on sales of TFT-LCD panels for the purpose of monitoring and enforcing adherence to the agreed-upon prices.

HannStar is charged with price fixing in violation of the Sherman Act, which carries a maximum fine of $100 million for corporations. The maximum fine may be increased to twice the gain derived from the crime or twice the loss suffered by the victims of the crime, if either of those amounts is greater than the statutory maximum fine.

Anyone with information concerning illegal conduct in the TFT-LCD industry is urged to call the Antitrust Division’s San Francisco Field Office at 415-436-6660 or visit www.justice.gov/atr/contact/newcase.htm.

Without the price-fixing scheme, liquid-crystal panels would have been even cheaper, and they are key parts in a wide range of products. For example, the screen represents 10 percent to 20 percent of the total cost of a notebook PC, said Rob Enderle, an independent analyst in San Jose, California.

The effect was somewhat higher prices. "These price-fixing conspiracies affected millions of American consumers who use computers, cellphones, and numerous other household electronics every day," Barnett said in a statement.

During the Bush administration, antitrust enforcement has been selective and often guided by a hands-off, pro-business philosophy, legal experts say. But price-fixing cartels are an area of antitrust in which there is no debate about enforcement. In a 2004 Supreme Court decision, which was unanimous, cartels were called "the supreme evil of antitrust."

Analysis performed by OnPoint expert Dr. Gareth Macartney helped secure a favorable settlement for Eastman Kodak in its dispute with LCD panel manufacturers Epson, AU Optronics and Toshiba. The settlement resolved a dispute centered on allegations that the Defendants participated in an international price-fixing conspiracy involving thin film transistor liquid crystal display (TFT-LCD) panels. The antitrust lawsuit was part of a multidistrict litigation against the world’s leading TFT-LCD manufacturers in Taiwan, Korea and Japan. To date, the consolidated TFT-LCD price-fixing litigation has produced at least $1.39 billion in settlement deals and has led to guilty pleas and criminal charges against companies and individuals connected to the alleged price-fixing scheme.

TFT-LCD panels are used in flat-panel televisions, computer monitors, laptop computers, digital cameras, camera phones and other devices. At the time of the conspiracy, Kodak was among the top three digital camera brands in the US, and it purchased digital cameras manufactured by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) in Asia. Those cameras contained TFT-LCD panels that the OEMs purchased from panel manufacturers, such as the Defendants. Kodak suffered increased camera costs to the extent that the OEMs passed through TFT-LCD panel prices elevated by the conspiracy.

Dr. Macartney submitted an initial expert report and provided expert testimony on behalf of Plaintiff Kodak, investigating the economic injury suffered by Kodak as a result of Defendants’ price-fixing conspiracy. Dr. Macartney’s analysis demonstrated that the price-fixing conspiracy increased the price of TFT-LCD panels of all sizes to supra-competitive levels, and that the OEMs passed through a substantial portion of the price increase to Kodak in the form of higher prices for digital cameras. Further, Dr. Macartney quantified the damages Kodak suffered due to its inability to pass-through the full extent of the increased costs to its retailer customers.

The money will go to US consumers and state governments. The alleged price fixing would have increased the prices of devices using LCD displays such as televisions and laptop computers.

China has punished six companies, including Samsung and LG, for manipulating LCD panel prices in the country, and ordered them to pay a total of US$56 million in fines.

Samsung, LG, and four Taiwanese companies "conspired" in a price fixing scheme facilitated through monthly meetings between 2001 to 2006, said China"s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) on Friday. During that period, the six companies held 53 meetings in Taiwan and South Korea to make agreements on LCD panel pricing.

Through the price-fixing scheme, the six companies sold 5.1 million panels in China, the most coming from LG, and Taiwanese LCD supplier Chimei Innolux. This amounted to 208 million yuan (US$33 million) in revenue. NDRC didn"t state which LG or Samsung company was fined.

China"s NDRC investigated the matter after receiving complaints of the price fixing scheme since December 2006. The three other Taiwanese firms involved in the alleged price-fixing include AU Optronics, Chunghwa Picture Tubes, and HannStar Display.

Regulators across the world have also investigated the companies for manipulating LCD panel prices and fined them for breaking anti-competition laws. In Dec. 2010, the European Commission fined Samsung Electronics, LG Display and the four Taiwanese companies for a total of about $850 million, though Samsung received immunity from fines for bringing the cartel to the notice of the commission and providing information.

The companies, Sharp of Japan, LG Display of South Korea and Chunghwa Picture Tubes of Taiwan, plead guilty to fixing prices on LCD (liquid crystal display) panels, the most expensive part of the screens on computer monitors, laptops, LCD-TVs and mobile phones.

Chunghwa Picture Tubes will continue working with the DOJ on its LCD industry investigation, it said in a statement. The company said it had already set aside funds in the event it settled with the DOJ in this case so the $65 million it was fined will not impact its financial situation.

The three major LCD panel makers agreed to pay a total of US$585 million in fines for price-fixing and pledged to cooperate in the DOJ"s continuing antitrust investigation into LCD price-fixing.

The DOJ penalty couldn"t come at a worse time for the companies. A glut of LCD panels globally has depressed prices and the global financial crisis is hurting demand for a range of items LCD panels are used in, including the screens of computer monitors, laptops, LCD-TVs and mobile phones.

The DOJ said U.S. consumers who buy mobile phones, computers and other household electronics have been most affected by the price-fixing conspiracy, while affected companies include Apple, Dell and Motorola.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Three major electronics manufacturers have agreed to plead guilty to a price-fixing conspiracy and pay $585 million in criminal fines for their roles in the pricing of LCD display panels, the Justice Department said Wednesday.

"These price-fixing conspiracies affected millions of American consumers who use computers, cell phones and numerous other household electronics every day," said Barnett. He declined to estimate losses stemming from the price fixing, but said he expected to provide some measure of the damages when the corporations are sentenced.

The Justice Department said LG Display Company, previously LG Philips, will pay by far the largest fine - $400 million, the second highest criminal fine ever imposed for price-fixing. The firm agreed to plead guilty to participating in a conspiracy from 2001 to 2006 to set the price of LCD panels worldwide.

Sharp agreed to pay a $120 million fine for three separate conspiracies with unnamed partners who sold LCD panels with artificially inflated prices to Dell (DELL, Fortune 500) for computer monitors and laptops, Motorola (MOT, Fortune 500) for panels in Razr mobile phones and Apple (AAPL, Fortune 500) for panels used in iPod portable music players.

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Eight state attorneys general announced a $538 million settlement with electronics makers Tuesday over allegations of price-fixing in LCD panels.

The companies are accused of colluding to fix prices for thin film transistor LCD panels, which are used in a variety of consumer products including computer screens and flat-panel televisions.

Consumer electronics and technology giant Toshiba has been fined $87 million by the US District Court in San Francisco for collaborating with other liquid crystal display (LCD) screen manufacturers to keep prices of the panels artificially high. LCD panels are used in a wide variety of devices, including televisions, computers and mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. Despite the verdict, the company said it might not have to pay the fine.

“Toshiba has consistently maintained that there was no illegal activity on its part in the LCD business in the United States, and Toshiba continues to hold that view. While Toshiba appreciates the jury’s time and effort, Toshiba believes that the jury’s verdict is in error as to the finding of wrongdoing,” Toshbia said in a prepared statement reported by the AFP newswire. “Given credits for settlements by other defendants, Toshiba expects that it will not have to pay any damages as a result of this verdict, even after trebling under US antitrust laws.”

The civil class action lawsuit, TFT-LCD (Flat Panel) Antitrust Litigation, MDL No. 1827, was filed in 2007 by purchasers of LCD panels installed in a variety of devices. €œRival LCD makers met in secret in karaoke bars, tea rooms, and hotel conference rooms in Taiwan to set prices rather than letting market forces prevail, according to US officials,€ the AFP report said. Taiwanese electronics company AU Optronics, which settled in April, and several other major LCD panel manufacturers had previously decided to settle, among them Samsung Electronics, Sharp and LG Electronics.

If you would like to know the status of your claim, email the Notice Administrator at info@lcdclass.com or call the toll-free hotline at 1-855-225-1886.

Read this please. People other than these states are they eligible or no ? Under the terms of the LCD price-fixing settlement, the companies will pay a combined $1.1 billion to consumers in 24 states and Washington, D.C. that purchased a laptop, computer monitor or television with a flat-panel LCD display between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2006 manufactured by one of these companies.

The LCD class action settlement only covers consumers who purchased INDIRECTLY from these companies. “Indirectly” means that you purchased an LCD panel in a television, monitor or notebook computer from someone other than the manufacturer of that panel (such as at Best Buy, Amazon.com, etc.). The states covered under the LCD class action settlement include:

UPDATE 3: On Oct. 27, 2014, our readers began reporting that they finally from the LCD panel class action settlement. Some readers have received checks worth hundreds of dollars. Let us know how much money YOU received in the comments section below. Congratulations!

Called the number this a.m. here in Florida because I wanted to know about the distribution of checks and the rep told me that my check was issued on Saturday past. I am anxiously awaiting the arrival of my funds simply because I have waited a long time. However, she could not or would not provide the amount of my check, she told me that they could not give that information out over the phone. Go figure. Therefore, I asked her about how many panels had I claimed since it had taken so long and I forgot the information and she glady gave me that information. From that I was able to multiply and come up with a round about figure. I will post later when I get off from work to see if it is in the mail today. I am giving it until Friday to show up, I hope it comes soon though.

UPDATE 10/23/14: A federal judge reportedly gave authorization to distribute the LCD class action settlement funds at a hearing on Oct. 17. 2014, and the checks are likely to be distributed the last week in October. Read more.

On July 24, 2014, you were sent an email advising you that all appeals in the LCD Indirect Purchaser Class Action Settlement had been dismissed and that the final steps necessary to disburse recoveries to Claimants were proceeding. This email is to provide you with an update on the status of these claim processing activities and the anticipated schedule for distributing checks. You will not receive any further email updates on the status of these procedures unless there is some significant unforeseen delay.

You are being sent this email because you filed a claim. Receipt of this email does not mean that your claim has been deemed eligible. If you would like to know if anything further is needed for your claim, or if you have questions, email the Notice Administrator at info@lcdclass.com or call the toll-free hotline at 1-855-225-1886. Additionally, please let us know if your address changes.

You previously filed a claim to share in the LCD Indirect Purchaser Class Action Settlement. As you may be aware, distribution of the settlement proceeds to Claimants had been delayed because of appeals from the Court’s approval of the settlements. All appeals have now been dismissed. Accordingly, we now can move forward with concluding the procedures necessary to disburse recoveries to Claimants. This email is to provide you with an update on the status of these claim processing activities.

You are being sent this email because you filed a claim. Receipt of this email does not mean that your claim has been deemed eligible. If you would like to know if anything further is needed for your claim, or if you have questions, email the Notice Administrator at info@lcdclaims.com or call the toll-free hotline at 1-855-225-1886. Additionally, please let us know if your address changes.

UPDATE: Distribution of funds from the LCD class action settlement has been delayed by appeals. The Settlement Administrator is estimating that the appeals will not be resolved until 2015 to 2018. More info: http://topclassactions.com/lawsuit-settlements/lawsuit-news/23583-update-lcd-class-action-settlement-money-delayed-appeals/

You are being sent this email because you filed a claim in the LCD Indirect Purchaser Class Action Settlement. This email is to provide an update on the court proceedings in this case which directly affect when payments will be disbursed under the Settlement.

Receipt of this email does not mean that your claim has been deemed eligible. We are continuing to review claims and we will contact you if your claim is deficient or additional information is needed. If you would like to know if anything further is needed for your claim, or if you have questions regarding the Court proceedings, please feel free to email the Notice Administrator at info@lcdclass.com or call the toll-free hotline at 1-855-225-1886. Additionally, if you change addresses, please let us know.

If you click on the link above…LCD.com, it states that all 10 settlements have final approval with the court. There are appeals pending & that no payments will be made to class members until all appeals are resolved. This was updated 9/27/13.

Sent in all required paperwork (plenty of time) -received a letter dated Feb. 21, 2013 – stating “All proof you submitted to support your claim was accepted.” – Contacted LCD to check on the status – they told me “you failed to send in your paperwork!” I’m a bit upset over this!

I have a indirect claim that I filed a long time ago. I even received a letter wanting to clarify the number of screens I purchased. Now today I get an LCD FLAT PANEL CONSUMER CLAIM FORM….did anybody else receive the same thing? Why would they send this out now?

The Commission has decided that six manufacturers of LCD panels operated an illegal cartel, in breach of Article 101 of the TFEU. The cartel operated from October 2001 to February 2006 (a four month shorter period than that alleged in the statement of objections). During this time the companies agreed prices (including price ranges and minimum prices) and exchanged information on future production planning, capacity utilisation pricing and other commercial conditions.

The Commission concluded that the cartel activities had a direct impact on customers in the EEA as the vast majority of televisions, computer monitors and notebooks incorporating LCD panels and sold in the EEA come from Asia.

The companies, Sharp of Japan, LG Display of South Korea and Chunghwa Picture Tubes of Taiwan, plead guilty to fixing prices on LCD (liquid crystal display) panels, the most expensive part of the screens on computer monitors, laptops, LCD-TVs and mobile phones.

Chunghwa Picture Tubes will continue working with the DOJ on its LCD industry investigation, it said in a statement. The company said it had already set aside funds in the event it settled with the DOJ in this case so the $65 million it was fined will not impact its financial situation.

LG Display’s fine was the largest fine among the three LCD makers, $400 million, and the second-highest criminal fine ever imposed by the DOJ’s Antitrust Division. Lee said the size of the fine is in proportion to the company’s revenue. Since LG Display sells more LCD panels than Sharp or Chunghwa Picture Tubes, it faced a heavier payout.

The three LCD panel makers agreed to pay a total of US$585 million in fines for price-fixing and pledged to cooperate in the DOJ’s continuing antitrust investigation into LCD price-fixing.

The DOJ penalty couldn’t come at a worse time for the companies. A glut of LCD panels globally has depressed prices and the global financial crisis is hurting demand for a range of items LCD panels are used in, including the screens of computer monitors, laptops, LCD-TVs and mobile phones.

The DOJ said U.S. consumers who buy mobile phones, computers and other household electronics have been most affected by the price-fixing conspiracy, while affected companies include Apple, Dell and Motorola.

Consumers who bought a TV, monitor or laptop computer with an LCD flat-panel screen from a retailer between 1999 and 2006 paid inflated prices and can apply for cash reimbursement until Dec. 6, officials announced Tuesday.

The announcement comes as a result of a settlement in a lawsuit that claims nine leading electronics manufacturers - Samsung, LG Display, Hitachi, Sharp, Toshiba, AU Optronics, Chunghwa Picture Tubes, HannStar Display Corp. and Chi Mei Optoelectronics - reaped "billions of dollars in illegal profits" by price fixing.

The lawsuit alleged the manufacturers conspired to limit production of, and illegally raise prices for, LCD flat-screen TVs, monitors and laptops, according to Wisconsin Attorney General J.B. Van Hollen"s office. The screens were sold to purchasers, who ultimately passed on the overcharges to consumers. The companies also monitored retail prices in the United States "to ensure that the cartel had set profit-maximizing prices" for the LCD panels, according to the lawsuit involving Wisconsin.

Under the settlements, eligible consumers and businesses across the country will be able to collect $25, $100, $200 or more by answering a few simple questions about the number of LCD items they bought. The exact payment depends how many products were purchased and how many claims are filed.

"This class action against international price fixers allows individual class members to recover a significant portion of what was illegally taken from them and acts as a warning to others that those who fix prices illegally will not gain from their wrongdoing," Van Hollen said in a statement Tuesday. "Although we are sometimes bombarded with these class action notices, the amount available for consumers who purchased LCD TVs, laptops and monitors is significant and I encourage eligible purchasers to file claims."

Sharp, Hitachi and Samsung agreed to fix prices and limit the supply of LCD panels starting some time before 1999. As production increased in South Korea and Taiwan, the conspiracy expanded to the other manufacturers.

The companies took turns holding meetings during which vice presidents and other executives and managers exchanged information on prices, customer demand, supply and shipments.

"The participating defendants typically discussed how to raise prices and reached agreements on target prices, floor prices, and/or price ranges for . . . LCD panel sales," the lawsuit alleges. "They also discussed their pricing regarding specific customers and reached agreements as to how to deal with customers" requests for discounts. The participating defendants also typically reached agreements to limit the production of . . . LCD panels by setting target production levels, delaying capacity expansion, slowing assembly line volume . . . and other mechanisms."

The settlement releases all claims of indirect purchasers including consumers, businesses and state government in Wisconsin. Companies that purchased LCD panels directly from the manufacturers are still pursuing in lawsuits in California.

No receipts or other documents are required for small claims. To get more information about the settlements or to file a claim online, visit www.LCDclass.com or call the LCD settlement notice administrator at (855) 225-1886.