NEWSLETTER-2019-metin

102 NEWSLETTER 2019 ics manufacturers 4 , geo-blocking practices in the sale of video games 5 , hotel price discrimination 6 , cross-border and online sales restrictions of licensed merchandising products 7 , and airline ticket distribution services 8 . Most recently, on 17 December 2018, the Commission fined the US-based clothing company Guess EUR 39.8 million for anti- competitive practices in its European selective distribution system. The Commission found that Guess had imposed various restrictions, including restrictions on cross-border sales and online advertising, which enabled the company to maintain artificially high retail prices, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe. The Commission con- cluded that Guess’ practices, which the company engaged in until 31 October 2017, deprived European consumers of one of the core ben- efits of the European Single Market, namely, the possibility to shop cross-borders for more choices and for better deals 9 . By cooperating with the investigation and acknowledging that its conduct was anti- competitive, Guess obtained a 50% reduction in the fine. This decision is yet another demonstration of the increased scru- tiny of distribution arrangements in the e-commerce sector, and is another warning for retailers to ensure that all of their commercial agreements are compliant with competition law. The decision also 4 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-201_en.htm (Access date: March 2019); Investigation closed in July, 2018, with imposition of a fine over EUR 111 mil- lion to consumer electronics manufacturers, Asus, Denon & Marantz, Philips and Pioneer, for imposing fixed or minimum resale prices on their online retailers in breach of EU competition rules see; http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18- 4601_en.htm (Access date: March 2019); Case numbers are AT. 40465 (Asus), AT.40469 (Denon & Marantz), AT.40181 (Philips), AT.40182 (Pioneer). 5 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-201_en.htm (Access date: March 2019). 6 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-201_en.htm (Access date: March 2019). 7 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1646_en.htm (Access date: March 2019). 8 http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-6538_en.htm (Access date: March 2019). 9 Press Release - http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-6844_en.htm (Access date: March 2019).