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I778 - Education electronic register: Competition Authority launches investigation to check a possible understanding between two software providing companies


PRESS RELEASE


Press Release



EDUCATION ELECTRONIC REGISTER: COMPETITION AUTHORITY LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION TO CHECK A POSSIBLE UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN TWO SOFTWARE PROVIDING COMPANIES

The measure was notified today at Argo and Axios in the course of some inspections carried out in collaboration with the Competition Group of the Special Market Protection Unit of the Guardia di Finanza.


The Competition Authority, at a meeting on 9 April 2014, has decided to launch an investigation to determine the existence of a possible anti-competitive arrangement between the company Argo Software srl (Argo) and Axios Italia Service srl (Axios), active in the markets of management software and innovative applications for schools (electronic register and school-family communication in electronic format). The measure was notified today at the companies over a number of inspections carried out in collaboration with the Competition Group of the Special Market Protection Unit of the Guardia di Finanza.

The investigation was initiated in light of a report received by the publishing house Roberto Spaggiari Spa, according to which Argo and Axios, behind compulsory introducing in schools of the grade book and school-family communication in electronic format (2012-2013 school year), had reportedly decided to make it difficult until its removal, the interoperability between their management software and electronic registers of competitors. Argo and Axios, at different times but under similar conditions, had reportedly blocked access to the databases included in the management, containing data relating to pupils of the school (and their families) and staff (especially the teacher), which are necessary for the operation of the electronic register.

According to reporting company, such conduct would have in fact prevented to schools that adopt management software of Axios or Argo from using the data contained in the pupils and staff database, for the electronic register provided by a different operator. The obstacle to interoperability generated by the conduct of Argo and Axios, however, could also hinder the migration of management software to another.

The assumed agreement could substantially limit the choice of institutions and affect the dynamic competition in the markets for school software, including the one for innovative products such as the electronic register and school-family communication in electronic format, producing a distorting effect on the digitization process of the schools, to the detriment not only of the users of educational services, namely, pupils and their families, but of the entire community.

The process must be completed by 30 April 2015.


Rome, 15 April 2014