EU regulators resume Sony-BMG antitrust probe

(BRUSSELS) - EU regulators have resumed their antitrust probe into the merger that created music giant Sony BMG after companies delivered crucial information, the European Commission said Tuesday.

"The file is finally complete and the probe has been relaunched," said Commission spokesman for competition issues Jonathan Todd.

Regulators halted their probe in March during three months because the companies had failed to provide requested information.

The resumption of the probe means that regulators should rule on the deal by October 10.

After first approving the merger in July 2004, the Commission has had to reopen an antitrust review of the deal after the EU's second-highest court found that the regulators' initial ruling was flawed.

After the court's embarrassing decision against the Commission, regulators are eager to make sure that their second ruling on the merger is watertight.

The independent producers' association Impala successfully appealed against the original approval of the deal on the grounds that consolidation in the music publishing industry had given the music majors a stranglehold on CD prices and artists' contractual terms.