Konkurransetilsynet > News > Judgment in the Publishing case

Judgment in the Publishing case

Oslo District Court agrees with the Norwegian Competition Authority that the publishing companies Gyldendal, Cappelen Damm and Aschehoug infringed the Competition Act when they exchanged information and boycotted the distributor Interpress.

– We are pleased that the Oslo District Court shares the view of the Norwegian Competition Authority that the conduct in question constitutes a restriction of competition by object that infringed the Norwegian Competition Act. We note that the Court has reduced the fines that were imposed by the Authority. We will look carefully into the court’s reasoning on this point, says Legal Director Karin Stakkestad Laastad.

Oslo City Court ruled that Gyldendal and Cappelen Damm have to pay a fine of 5 million NOK each, and Aschehoug a fine of 3 million NOK.

From evidence to decision:

  • The Competition Authority carried out inspections at the premises of the companies concerned on 8 and 9 April 2014.
  • After the inspections, the Authority carried out a number of interviews with employees of the involved companies and reviewed a significant amount of data.
  • A Statement of Objections was sent to the companies on June 28, 2016.
  • The publishing companies replied to the Statement of Objections in September 2016.
  • The Competition Authority adopted the final decision in this case on 22 March 2017.
  • One of the involved companies, Schibsted/Vigmostad & Bjørke, accepted the fine.
  • Gyldendal, Cappelen Damm og Aschehoug brought an appeal before the Oslo District Court.
  • The case was pleaded in the  Oslo District Court from 11 April to 9 May 2018
Karin Stakkestad Laastad, jurudisk direktør i Konkurransetilsynet.
Legal Director, Karin Stakkestad Laastad.