slapped a fine of Tw$20 million on US tech
giant Apple for violating a fair trade law over
local iPhone pricing.
The Fair Trade Commission said an Apple unit
in charge of Taiwan sales had interfered in the
pricing and mobile phone payment rates of
three local telecom service providers, despite
selling them the distribution rights to the
phones.
It said investigations found that Chunghwa
Telecom, Far Eastone Telecommunication and
Taiwan Mobile had submitted their pricing
plans to Apple for approval or confirmation
before new models hit the market, while Apple
had also asked the Taiwanese companies to
change or adjust prices.
"Apple deprived the telecom operators of
liberty to decide on the prices based on their
own cost structures and competitive market
situation, to restrict competition ... and violate
the fair trade law," the commission said in a
statement, urging Apple to immediately stop its
illegal actions.
Apple, which can appeal the ruling, could face
an additional fine of up to Tw$50 million if it
fails to comply, the commission said.
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