US: Appeals court gears up for landmark LDC price-fixing case

A federal appeals court is slated to hear in only a matter of days a lawsuit that will impact the global reach of US antitrust laws.

The case stems from the US Department of Justice’s investigation into LCD panel price-fixing. From the DOJ’s findings, Motorola Mobility launched legal action against LCD makers Samsung Electronics, Sharp and LG Display, among other Asia-based companies, on claims that their alleged price-fixing cartel caused Motorola to pay inflated prices to have LCD screens installed on its products.

The defendants deny harm to Motorola, but the biggest question of the case is whether US antitrust law reaches price-fixing that affects products sold outside the US.

According to reports, the lawsuit is scheduled for arguments on November 13. The high-profile suit will be closely watched as experts anticipate how it will impact the application of antitrust law to products manufactured, assembled and sold outside the US before they are imported within its boarders.

An earlier ruling by the Seventh US Circuit Court of Appeals against Motorola caused both the US Department of Justice and the Federal Trade Commission to submit amicus briefs warning of the damage such a ruling could have on the effectiveness of US antitrust law and regulatory efforts to combat global price-fixing. The DOJ and FTC’s efforts lead the Seventh Circuit to reconsider its decision.

Full content: Wall Street Journal

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