Watchdog probes music file suppliers on price-rigging allegations

SEOUL, April 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea's antitrust watchdog is conducting a
probe into major music file suppliers here on allegations that they have been
involved in price-rigging practices, its chief official said Tuesday.
"We are currently conducting a probe into the price-fixing allegations," Baek
Yong-ho, head of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC), told lawmakers. "The outcome of
the investigation will likely be unveiled within the first half of this year."
He didn't name the companies subject to the investigation but added that if the
suspicions turn out to be the case, they will have to pay fines "in accordance
with sales earned from the business malpractices."
The remarks come after a civic group lodged a complaint with the FTC last month
that domestic large-sized online music providers, a file sharing site and three
big music label companies including Sony Music Entertainment had been involved in
such shady deals.
Baek said that an investigation has been completed into manufacturers of the
popular distilled liquor soju, after similar allegations. Mobile carriers and
airlines are also under scrutiny for similar charges.
kokobj@yna.co.kr
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