EU Opens Antitrust Case Against 6 Major US Movie Studios

[Gokira2012]

BRUSSELS — The European Union has launched an antitrust case against six major U.S. movie studios, including Disney and Warner Bros, and British satellite broadcaster Sky for restricting access across the 28-country bloc.

The EU’s executive Commission said Thursday it had sent a statement of objections to the companies regarding what it says are “contractual restrictions” that prevent Sky offering its full service to consumers beyond Britain and Ireland.

The companies mentioned in the statement are NBCUniversal, Paramount Pictures, Sony and Twentieth Century Fox as well as Disney, Warner Bros. and Sky UK.

 “European consumers want to watch the pay-TV channels of their choice regardless of where they live or travel in the EU,” EU Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said. “Our investigation shows that they cannot do this today.”

Since the suspected restriction runs counter to one of the cornerstones of the European Union — the abolition of all impediment to trade within the EU’s borders — the Sky UK case raises questions for other broadcasters across Europe.

The Commission, which wields vast powers when it comes to antitrust and anticompetitive practices in the EU, confirmed it is also looking into similar cases including Canal Plus of France, Sky Italia of Italy, Germany’s Sky Deutschland and DTS of Spain.

“We continue to examine cross-border access to pay-TV services in these member states,” said Commission spokesman Ricardo Cardoso.'

 

More at link  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/eu-opens-antitrust-case-against-6-major-us-movie-studios_55b0ea81e4b08f57d5d3b8af?8l0daemi