LCD screens might be getting cheaper

**MotoZ** · 11-12-08, 01:51 PM

LG, Sharp, and Chunghwa got caught in a price fixing scheme. U.S. Justice Dept. FTW! :9

http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/12/news...xing/index.htm

**Consultant** · 11-12-08, 02:08 PM

I don't know much about antitrust law, but a friend practices in that area in DC...would something like this affect other brands prices?

I will ask her...

**Graverunner** · 11-12-08, 02:10 PM

good, because this 17 inch monitor blows.

**K0nTANK3Rous** · 11-12-08, 02:11 PM

Originally Posted by Gr4verunner

good, because this 17 inch monitor blows.

sweeeet...i need to get me one of them. Mine just sits there.

**MotoZ** · 11-12-08, 06:34 PM

Originally Posted by Consultant

I don't know much about antitrust law, but a friend practices in that area in DC...would something like this affect other brands prices?

I will ask her...

Consultant,

Theoretically, yes. The question is how much.

If the price reduction is small then the monitor manufacturers may just keep the difference (it was the screen people that got busted, not he people that make the monitors complete with stands, speakers, etc.)

On the other hand, if the price reduction is big (in the legal world we say "material" instead of "big"), then the monitor manufacturers would most likely lower prices to gain market share.

In any event I wouldn't expect too much of a drop. Maybe 1-5%. But still.

**MotoZ** · 11-12-08, 06:44 PM

Aww shit. I just re-read the article. They got busted back in 2006. Any savings that might be had have already been had. Oh well.

**RhysJD3** · 11-12-08, 09:45 PM

LED's should start hitting some time so that will probably drop prices but no idea when.

**~~Cecil900~~** · 11-12-08, 10:43 PM

The only advantage to OLED's is that they dont require a backlight, which is why they are so popular in mobile devices.

**Consultant** · 11-13-08, 08:16 AM

Update:

Got this from my friend the DC antitrust lawyer.

This would have been for past pricing. Since there was a DOJ investigation and criminal fines, one would hope they aren't currently price fixing. That just seems daft. Usually, after the DOJ investigates a cartel and levies fines, plaintiffs' lawyers bring class action law suits (piggybacking off the DOJ investigation). If the class action law ... Read Moresuits are successful, you may be entitled to part of a settlement. However, you would only be entitled to part of a settlement if you bought something with an LCD panel in it made by one of the price fixing companies during the time of the alleged price fixing (2001 to 2006). These are all a lot of what ifs . . . . Bottom line, it probably doesn't mean anything for you in the immediate future.