FREE PRESS: INVESTIGATION CONCLUDED, ADS-ACCERTAMENTI DIFFUSIONE STAMPA FINED 8,000 EUROS
PRESS RELEASE
PRESS RELEASE
PUBLISHING: ANTITRUST AUTHORITY FINES ADS FOR NOT HAVING INCLUDED THE FREE PRESS IN ITS SURVEYS
The Association was found to have restricted competition. Fine of eight thousand euros.
The association known as ADS-Accertamenti Diffusione Stampa restricted competition in not admitting the free press to its survey systems. This was the finding of the Italian Competition Authority at its meeting on 17 May 2007 at the conclusion of an investigation which began on 28 September 2005.
In the Authority's view, ADS created an anti-competitive arrangement by refusing to include free daily newspapers in its certification system for printing and circulation figures. This conduct led to an alteration in the free play of competition in the market for advertising revenues.
ADS must pay a fine of eight thousand euros, a figure calculated as a proportion of the association's total revenues.
Rome, 23 May 2007