Apple has been fined $670K by Taiwan’s Fair Trade Commission (FTC) for Interfering with Local Distributors’ iPhone-Pricing Plans.
First time Apple has been fined for such practices.
Although Apple can appeal against the fine, it could face a fine of up to $1.6 million if it does not meet the terms.
In a statement FTC says that, “Through the email correspondence between Apple and three Taiwan telecom companies we discovered the companies submit their pricing plans to Apple to be approved or confirmed before the products hit the market,”
And, FTC said that the Cupertino-based tech giant has no right to dictate the price of iPhones sold by local carriers after it had sold them the distribution rights for the device.
As the three carriers paid Apple for those rights, they are allowed to distribute or resell iPhones at their own convenient price, the FTC. Those three telecom companies are, Chunghwa Telecom Co Ltd, Taiwan Mobile Co Ltd and Far EasTone Telecommunications Co Ltd.
