AGCM

On 12 November 2019, the Authority  opened an investigation against Progetto Archivio Storico S.r.l. (PAS) and Assegnazione Arte S.r.l. to assess two alleged unfair commercial practices, in the promotion and sale of products and services to consumers who are already purchasers of Treccani’s products, in breach of articles 20, 21 sec. 1 (b) and (f), 24, 25 sec. 1 (a) and 26 sec. 1 (c) of the Consumer Code.

In particular, it is alleged that PAS and Assegnazione Arte contact customers, misleading them to believe that they are connected with Treccani, to offer services aimed at improving the Treccani’s works already in their possession, when the real objective is to sell their own publications.

Moreover, it is alleged that the said companies would also pressure Treccani’s customers to convince them to purchase the publications, for example via repeated telephone calls or long visits at home.

Today, the officials of the Authority carried out unannounced inspections on the premises of the companies concerned as well as on another entity that is believed to possess information that might be useful for the investigation, with the help of the Special Antitrust Unit of the of the Italian Finance Police.

Rome, 19 November 2019