Valve and other publishers in trouble: fines arrive for using geo-blocking

    Valve and other publishers in trouble: fines arrive for using geo-blocking

    The European Commission has fined Valve, Bandai Namco, Capcom, Focus Home, Koch Media and ZeniMax for a total amount of 7,8 million euro for the unauthorized use of the geo-blocking present in PC games. All the publishers mentioned are accused of having violated the antitrust rules of the European Union. The European Commission has stated that companies have limited cross-border sales of some PC version games based on the geographic location of buyers residing within the European Economic Area (EEA), in violation of EU antitrust rules. As reported by colleagues of eurogamer.net, the European Commission has published a table (which awaits you at the bottom of the news), listing the amount (in Euro) of the fines, divided by each publisher already mentioned. The fines were reduced by 10%  (in the case of Capcom by 15%) because the publishers collaborated with the Commission.



    The hardest hit among publishers (other than Valve) turns out to be Focus Home, who will have to pay a fine of € 2.888.000. Bandai Namco is the brand that has come out least impressed: it owes the EU alone 340.000 €. Exceeds the million and a half euros, on the other hand, ZeniMax (a brand to which Bethesda belongs), recently acquired by Microsoft. The Commission stated that Valve refused to cooperate, receiving a fine equal to the monstrous sum of 1 billion and 624 million euros. Below, Valve's statements released to eurogamer.net through the words of the executive vice president Margrethe Vestager:

    Today's sanctions against the geo-blocking practices of Valve and five PC game publishers serve as a reminder that under EU competition law, companies are prohibited from contractually restricting cross-border sales. Such practices deprive European consumers of the benefits of the EU digital single market and of the opportunity to shop around to find the most suitable offer in the EU.



    But events may not stop there. Indeed, the Commission stated that any person or company struck by the anti-competitive behavior just described it can appeal to the courts of the Member States and ask for the compensation for damages. In cases before national courts, a decision by the European Commission constitutes binding evidence; practically a sentence already written against an act considered illegal. Speaking of Valve, Steam has registered a new access record simultaneous by unique users around the world. Finally, about two weeks ago, the winners of the Steam Awards 2020.



    Valve and other publishers in trouble: fines arrive for using geo-blocking

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