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South African publishers to be investigated over price fixing

The South African Competition Commission will investigate the Publishers’ Association of South Africa (PASA) and its 91 members over allegations of fixing the prices and trading conditions of books, reports South Africa’s Sunday Times.

Commissioner Tembinkosi Bonakele has received information that alleges the association and its members ‘may have been involved in fixing prices of books in contravention of the Competition Act’, said the commission in a statement.

The commission said the price-fixing arrangement ‘appears to be historic in the industry dating back as early as [the] 1980s’ and includes trade books, ebooks, student textbooks‚ learning material and teachers’ guides.

Bonakele said, ‘Given how widespread the practice is and the importance of the products‚ we expect the participants to cooperate with the investigation by‚ among other things‚ immediately bringing their cartel activities to a stop and approaching the Competition Commission.’

PASA members include the South African branches of international publishers such as Cambridge University Press, Cengage Learning, Pan Macmillan, Pearson, Penguin Random House, Taylor & Francis, and Heinemann.

 

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Category: International news