Chinese TV, mobile phone and computer makers may file suit against the price conspiracy of liquid crystal display (LCD) screen producers Samsung, Philips, Toshiba, LG and Sharp, state media said on Wednesday (May 5, 2010).
"Working with American law firm Hausfeld LLP, the Beijng-based law firm Lehman, Lee & Xu has called the Chinese LCD TV producers and other companies to join a class action suit on LCD panel makers Samsung, Sharp and LG for compensation,” said the Shanghai-based National Business Daily on May 5.
Samsung Philips Toshiba LG and Sharp Faces Class Action Suit for LCD Price Conspiracy
The global LCD panel giant, including LG, Sharp, Samsung, Philips and Toshiba, unlawfully colluded to inflate the prices of LCD displays above the normal level between 1999 and 2006, according to the investigation of the San Francisco court. The price conspiracy has affected millions of the consumers in the sectors of computers, mobile phones, televisions and other household appliances in the United States and many other nations.
The San Francisco court certified on March 28 the case as a class action suit on behalf of both direct and indirect buyers of LCD from 1999 to 2006, according to the Bloomberg. After then big LCD consumers like Nokia have filed suits against these LCD companies one by one.
Chinese Mobile Phone, TV and PC Makers to File Suits against Samsung LG and Sharp
The lawsuits from Chinese companies may follow the actions of Nokia and other big brands. But they have not cleared when they would file the suits, according to the National Business Daily. It said in the report that the Chinese LCD TV and HDTV maker Changhong responded that they were doing research on this issue. At the same time, another LCD television maker Skyworth said they would keep up with the event. Other TV, mobile phone or computer makers, including TCL, Lenovo, Aigo and Hisense, did not commented on this issue, according to the National Business Daily.
Slow Action to Fight against LCD Price Conspiracy
Hao junbo, lawyer of the Lehman, Lee & Xu, pointed out the class action suit would cover more and more nations in the world, as quoted by the National Business Daily. As the price conspiracy has been confirmed and the LCD makers have sold their products to China for years, he added, the Chinese LCD consumers are no doubt the victims of this event and have the right to claim for compensation.
The National Business Daily also said in the report that some of the domestic enterprises may hesitate to file suits against the LCD screen giants, for fearing that the actions will damage their LCD panel supplies in this highly concentrative industry.
Chen Nanyang - Chen Nanyang's journalist career began in 2002 when he started writing for China's Nanfang City News, Singapore's United Morning Post and ...
Join the Conversation