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EU fines Valve and 5 other gaming companies for geo-blocking PC games
Ever wondered why a game can cost half the price of in some countries and why VPN purchases and activations have become so popular? Well, the European Commission decided to fine Valve, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home Interactive, Koch Media and ZeniMax for a combined total of € 7.8 million.
The understanding for the financial punishment is that these companies sold games at a lower price in Eastern European countries and that these were exclusive to those regions and could not be activated in Western Europe. This "Geo-Blocking" of PC games is prohibited in the European Union, so the Commission decided to fine all companies that violated antitrust rules.
The commission highlights Valve in the official press release, especially because the company did not cooperate. The other companies received a slight penalty for their cooperation.
Over 50% of all Europeans play video games. The sanctions against the “geo-blocking” practices of Valve and five PC video game companies serve as a reminder that, under EU competition law, companies are prohibited from contractually restricting cross-border sales. These practices deprive European consumers of the benefits of the EU digital single market and the opportunity to search for the most suitable offer in the EU, ”said Executive Vice President Margrethe Vestager, in charge of competition policy.
With the cooperation reductions applied, the € 7.8 million fine was distributed as follows:
| Company | Reduction for cooperation | Fine (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Bandai namco | 10% | 340,000 EUR |
| Capcom | fifteen% | EUR 396,000 |
| Focus Home | 10% | 2,888,000 EUR |
| Koch Media | 10% | 977,000 EUR |
| ZeniMax | 10% | EUR 1,664,000 |
| VALVE | - | 1,624,000 EUR |
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k3vst3r
Senior Member
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Joined: 2009-01-03
Senior Member
Posts: 3503
Joined: 2009-01-03
#5879556 Posted on: 01/21/2021 10:46 AM
Laughable fine, needs be far higher to get the message across. Probably make the fine amount back in few hours of sales. Fines need run into hundreds of millions especially for valve.
Laughable fine, needs be far higher to get the message across. Probably make the fine amount back in few hours of sales. Fines need run into hundreds of millions especially for valve.
haste
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Joined: 2006-09-30
Senior Member
Posts: 1451
Joined: 2006-09-30
#5879559 Posted on: 01/21/2021 11:01 AM
It's less than a pocket change to these companies. Such fines won't change anything.
It's less than a pocket change to these companies. Such fines won't change anything.
Conker1970
Junior Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 2021-01-11
Junior Member
Posts: 8
Joined: 2021-01-11
#5879563 Posted on: 01/21/2021 11:22 AM
Thing is they will have to change or face heavier penalties.
EU at least does soemthing for customers...
Thing is they will have to change or face heavier penalties.
EU at least does soemthing for customers...
spine
Senior Member
Posts: 152
Joined: 2005-05-04
Senior Member
Posts: 152
Joined: 2005-05-04
#5879565 Posted on: 01/21/2021 11:24 AM
Barely a slap on the wrist, but I guess it sends a message.
Barely a slap on the wrist, but I guess it sends a message.
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Posts: 2622
Joined: 2013-03-10
Valve must have heard, through its channels, that the fine would be candy money, so it didn't even bother to cooperate to lower it.
Zenimax will, inconspicuously a few years from now, make Elder Scrolls VI a bit more expensive in Europe and get all that money easily back, plus some interest.