German Anti-Trust Authority Fines Manufacturer for Limiting Internet Sales

German Anti-Trust Authority Fines Manufacturer for Limiting Internet Sales:
the Bundeskartellamt (anti-trust authority) in Germany has fined CIBA Vision, a manufacturer of contact lenses, for limiting the market possibilities of internet merchants (in particular via Ebay) and influencing their pricing. The fine was 11.5 million Euro. CIBA had a team special for checking and controlling what happens with their products on the internet.
http://www.crn.de/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=220301199&cid=CRNnewsletter-html
Advise: be as a manufacturer extremely cautious in not hampering one of your channels, especially the online channel in the EU's biggest market, Germany. It is not only about pricing, but also other ways which limit the market possibilities and thus free competition. Anti-Trust Authorities will be more and more active in this area, in particular in current times in which a freeer market is seen as a recipe for boosting the stalling consumer market.