The antimonopoly office suspects graphic studios of cartel activities

Brno - Some Czech graphic studios may be colluding on the prices of their services according to the antimonopoly office. The office is currently conducting three administrative proceedings due to suspicions of a cartel - against the Union of Graphic Design, the Typo Design Club, and the Association of Applied Graphics and Graphic Design Prague. The associations issue price lists with recommended prices, which according to the Office for the Protection of Competition (ÚOHS) is not correct, said its spokesperson Kristián Chalupa to ČTK today.
The ÚOHS does not want to disclose more information for now. However, they claim that the materials issued by the associations may influence their members and hinder competition development. According to the annual report of the office for last year, graphic services are one of the areas that officials want to focus on more this year. It is not possible to estimate when the administrative proceedings will end, according to the spokesperson. The office initiated them only this year.
The publication of recommended prices is not uncommon for professional associations. In the past, pharmacists and the Czech Chamber of Authorized Engineers and Technicians Active in Construction encountered problems with this. However, in the latter case, the Supreme Administrative Court intervened and ruled that this chamber has the legal right to publish recommended prices.
Due to price setting for resale, the office has previously investigated some manufacturers of doors and floors, cosmetics suppliers, and manufacturers of non-alcoholic beverages. The Czech branch of Tupperware had to pay a fine of 2.3 million crowns for setting sales prices. The furniture company Jelínek from Valašské Meziříčí received a penalty of 150,000 CZK two years ago. The office has also imposed larger fines on operators Vodafone and Český Telecom in the past.

> The Union of Graphic Design defends itself: we care about fair business [15.4.2008]