A car burns in front of the Roman Catholic Basilica of the Annunciation 03 March 2006 in the Isaeli city of Nazareth. Clashes just started after three Israelis sowed panic at a church in the hometown of Jesus 03 March 2006 when they entered the building and set off fireworks during a service, an Israeli police spokesman said. The two women and a man were set upon by angry worshippers, who threatened to lynch them, and the man was reported injured.



Samsung and Hynix Fined for Price Fixing

With respect to their involvement in price fixing to raise prices of DRAM in the US market, it was revealed that domestic companies, the US affiliate of Samsung Electronics and Hynix Semiconductor, have paid big penalties through individual negotiation of the cases in the United States. It is the first time that Korean companies have paid such penalties for overseas DRAM consumers.

According to a government source, the Fair Trade Commission is currently taking steps into investigating whether such companies conducted illegal cases of price fixing in the domestic DRAM market as well. Depending on the investigation, a big cartel wave will swamp the domestic DRAM market, and the companies will also face difficulties.

According to the Fair Trade Commission on Mar. 5, Samsung stated, “With respect to the DRAM cartel, according to a 2005 audit report, the U.S. affiliate of Samsung Electronics set aside $67 million last year to cover settlement costs with antitrust plaintiffs.” A source from Samsung stated, “We might have to use more dollars, for customers’ suits are still in the US courts,” adding, “It doesn’t influence the company’s state of financial affairs.” Regarding the case, a Hynix staffer also said, “We’re in the process of dealing with the plaintiffs through individual negotiation.”

With regard to these cases, a source from the Fair Trade Commission said, “Once a nation competing with Korea has judged it as a cartel case, the plaintiffs can legally take priority.”
/ 입력시간: 2006. 03.07. 14:23