The European Commission has accused manufacturers of cathode-ray tubes of running cartels in the markets for computer monitors and TVs, the regulator said Thursday.

The Commission declined to name any of the companies involved, but Dutch consumer electronics manufacturer Philips has received a formal statement of objections from the Commission, the company said in a filing to the Euronext stock exchange.

The charges follow a two-year investigation sparked by complaints from customers in 2007. The complainants alleged that Philips and five other manufacturers colluded in order to prevent prices of CRT screens from falling as demand for the old technology almost evaporated.

Cathode ray tubes (CRTs) fall into two categories: color display tubes used in computer monitors, and color picture tubes used in color television sets. Both technologies have largely been superseded by LCD and plasma screens used in flat monitors and TVs, but CRTs are still manufactured for sale in developing countries. [More...] [Comments...]