EU to investigate alleged collusion by luxury watch-makers
(BRUSSELS) - The European Commission opened formal anti-trust proceedings on Friday into allegations that several luxury watch producers colluded to refuse supplying spare parts to independent repairers.
The Commission had originally passed on the case in 2008, but was ordered to reverse that decision by the European Court of Justice last year.
The complaint alleges that watch manufacturers refused to supply spare parts to repairers that did not belong to manufacturer maintenance networks.
The Commission had rejected the complaint, which was originally lodged in 2004 by the European Confederation of Watch & Clock Repairers' Associations, saying that it lacked "community interest".
According to the complainant, luxury watches had traditionally been repaired by independent multi-brand repairers before manufacturers pushed them out beginning in 2002.
The complaint alleges that there are no alternative sources for luxury watch supplies and that cutting them out from spare parts effectively pushes the independents out of business.
The complaint does not specify against which manufacturers allegations had been made.
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