DS Suppliers in Price Fix

Chris Kruger

Manufacturers Sharp and Hitachi are under investigation for price-fixing, the Times Online reported today. They have been responsible for the manufacture of the LCD screens used in the Nintendo DS

The headquarters of both companies were raided by the Japanese Fair Trade Commission yesterday in order to gather potential evidence of a suspected price-fixing arrangement.

Sharp was originally the supplier of Nintendo DS screens. They where later joined by Hitachi when demand for the DS exceeded manufacturing capacity a year after the handheld console's release.

Spokesmen for both companies have confirmed the probe, but neither have issued any further comment. Recently the Japanese government put into place a "whistle-blower law" which grants immunity from prosecution to the first company within a price-fixing cartel to come clean.