LG, Sharp Fined for LCD Price Fixing

Apparently there's been some price fixing going on with LCD flat-panel screens, and the Department of Justice's antitrust division intends to make it right. The fixed prices under scrutiny were sold from April 2001 to December 2006, and include computers, laptops, and phones. Specific screens involved in the scandal include Apple Computers, RAZR phones, iPods, and TFT-LCDs. Chances are, you've been exposed to at least three of these somewhere in that timeframe.



So who's to blame? Who's been involved, and who will be paying up to fix these "fixes"? The $585 million fine has been split among three major companies, LG, Sharp, and Chunghwa (Taiwanese telecommunications company, not to be confused with the English Anarcho-punk group Chumbawamba). LG takes the brunt of the bill with $400 million. Sharp will cover $120 million, and Chunghwa will fill in the last $65 million. All parties have agreed to pay up for their role in the conspiracies. Make checks payable to the Department of Justice. I'm not sure what the $585 million goes to, but I'm guessing it won't be trickling down to the actual consumers.

In light of the issue, we would like to suggest a few slogan changes for the perpetrators.

LG: Life's Good, especially when you're making enough money that you can pay $400 million in fines.

Sharp: Sharp Minds, Sharp Products. Sharp prices, sharp consequences. Nothing is lost, and by nothing we mean $120 million.

Chunghwa: no slogan, so we're going to go with the lyrics from Tubthumping, "I Get Knocked Down".

We've got reviews of all the best LCD TVs, as well as a few more blog posts that have nothing to do with litigation:

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