Following a European Commission investigation, a group of video game publishers was fined € 7,8 million following allegations of geo-exclusion practices. An official decision by the Commission ruled that Capcom, Bandai Namco, ZeniMax, Koch Media, Focus Home Interactive and Valve had violated antitrust laws. Companies in some countries effectively blocked more than 100 Steam titles - from 2010 to 2015. These titles became unavailable in its markets. Czech Republic, Poland, Hungary, Romania, Slovakia, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, thus violating the European Commission 's' single market' policies.
These business practices have denied European consumers the benefits of its digital single market. EU that is, they could not make purchases between Member States to find the best offer. The Commission concluded that the illegal practices of Valve and all five video game publishers EEE in breach of EU antitrust rules. "
Fines for each publisher adapted based on how much they worked with the committee. Most video game publishers have seen their fines reduced. In Valve - which according to information did not cooperate with the investigation - a fine of € 1,6 million (approximately $ 2,9 million) was eventually imposed. Valve told Eurogamer that it had worked with the Commission and intends to appeal the decision. Focus Home Interactive received the largest fine - 2,8 million euros (about $ 3,4 million) even with a reduction.
"More than 50% of all Europeans play video games," said Margrethe Vestager, Executive Representative of the European Commission. "Europe 's video game industry is thriving and now worth € 17 billion. The current sanctions Valve Geo-Exclusion Practices and five video game publishers serve as a reminder that under EU competition law, companies must sell their products Europe without additional requirements. Such practices deprive European consumers of the benefits of the EU digital single market and the opportunity to make their purchases based on best offer.
Source of information: destructoid.com
Greek
Chinese (Simplified)
English
Greek
Russian