Why fine the bastards, throw the bosses in Jail. Fines are no deterrent, the costs are just passed on to the customers, therefore they end up paying twice, once for the price fixed item and two, for the fines, a lose - lose situation as far as the consumer is concerned. A bit of jail time for some of these well heeled CEO's would probably be a deterrent!!

Oh I quite agree. Corporations are individuals under the law, if they commit the same crimes that an individual does, their boards and officers should be tried for both civil and criminal charges. THAT would reform the way corporation act and perhaps help restore responsibility to corporate actions world wide.

when can I get my refund from apple and DEll?

I believe all the CEOs involved reside overseas. Hard to put them in jail. Ban\restrict importation for 2 years, go for the pocket book. There are other manufactures. That CEO will wish for US jail time!

We'll just send in Rambo.

Barnett said only the three corporations are charged, but stressed the investigation is continuing and did not rule out possible charges against individuals from the three firms or from other firms. If charged and convicted, individuals could face a sentence of up to 10 years.

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jbruni wrote:
We'll just send in Rambo.

OK OK... I'll go (Rambo searches for his arthritis medication)

I think fines are a good idea, especially if they can be followed up by a boycott on the product (so there is no chance to pass the fine back to the consumer as a markup). Tech is so essential to development, and these jerks have been holding it back and/or marking it up -- that sort of collusion kills capitalism and destroys any benefit that the businesses could bring to society. They are thieves and should be treated as such.

Sadly, the culture of CEO worship will likely barely wince at this -- the perpetrators will probably continue in their preposterously overpaid positions. Once convicted of such behavior they should be blackballed (at least for a punitive period, if not forever) and not allowed to work in the industry again. A felony record would help with that...

Greed, poor management and lean laws have put this country into a sling. The jerks whom have been doing this are happy to pay the fine because they made 5 times the amount in $ already and they will do it again. Forget the jail time and fines...straight to execution is the best way to get this kind of cancer out of our society. Public burning at the stake would be a good start. But to be fair first time offenders would just lose a hand...second time offenders should lose their head.

I completely concur with your idea sir, I have always thought that the responsibility of the corporation should truly lie in those with the responsibility of the corporation in question.

Wow let's take more money from a corporation with the economy the way it is. Hopefully that will take out funds to pay employees and they will get laid off as a result. Makes so much sense. Sometimes punishment needs to be more than a fine and a slap on the hand.

Next, let's examine cellular, cable, and DSL service providers.

They must be joking. Those fines are paltry insult to comsumers.
The sad reality is lots of corporations and businesses are involved with price-fixing and get away with it on a massive scale.
I agree that jail time for the heads of these corporations would be just and proper punishment.

Corporations are not individuals - in fact one of the advantages of incorporating is that it shields individuals from personal liability. Before you post check your facts.

What are you talking about? Fines are the only thing that really scares companies. I dont know the math but I bet that fine totally just took away their profits. Now their market share might not be effected and the government gets the money and not the consumers where it belongs... but it does prove the point that those laws are enforced and the company as a whole is punished. If we send to jail the CEO then we become like China.

... and accidentally grabs his little blue pills ... providing another means of 'taking care' of the bat-rastards!!!

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Guest wrote:
the costs are just passed on to the customers, therefore they end up paying twice, once for the price fixed item and two, for the fines, a lose - lose situation as far as the consumer is concerned."

"I believe all the CEOs involved reside overseas.

where did you both attend college, and how long did you study trans-national corporations? you both couldn't be more wrong. if you came to America, killed someone, then went home and proceeded about your business, do you think you wouldn't and couldn't be held accountable? this is known as a white collar crime - they will not go to jail because they have the resources to pay off their time. and you think the price would come from the consumer? they just got busted for PRICE FIXING, if they were to raise the prices on their products, they would go out of business because other companies could lower their prices and force them out of business.

if you must commit your useful comments, then do just that. if you want to make up some ignorant comment, then please go to any university, ask to speak with any economic or sociology professor (preferably one dealing with the global market) and ask who is right. how would i know this? currently i am writing my dissertation on the global economy. anyone, please feel free to criticize.

cosumers had paid it, as loser.
companies kept it.
government have it as final winner.

Simple. Void the patent in question.

[troll excrement removed]

[response to troll excrement removed]

Communists are we?

[troll coming back, noticing that somebody responded and excreting again, removed]

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Guest wrote:
Corporations are not individuals - in fact one of the advantages of incorporating is that it shields individuals from personal liability. Before you post check your facts.

Corporations are legal personalities. See this Wikipedia description, which dovetails nicely with my college law classes:
Legal personality refers to the ability of an organization to enter into legal transactions such as holding property or entering into debt. Some examples of legal persons include:
companies
cooperatives (co-ops)
corporations

Dear Guest:

As an attorney, I can ensure you that corporations are in fact treated as individuals under the law. That is why incorporating shields individuals from personal liability. When you deal with a corporation it theoretically is the corporation that harmed you, not the indivudals working for it.

Corporations can be found criminally liable, have free speech rights, are allowed to donate to political campaigns [under a first amendment right theory], and file separate tax returns. Many of these things are sad if you ask me, but true.


Wikepedia is not always the best source, but it has it essentially correct:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_liability

Moreover, telling somebody to check their facts seems a little ironic in your case. It also isn't always the smartest thing to do because you look like an idiot when somebody does check the facts and you turn out to be clearly wrong. Just my two cents. :O)

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Guest wrote:
Corporations are not individuals - in fact one of the advantages of incorporating is that it shields individuals from personal liability. Before you post check your facts.

Unless I read it wrong, Apple and Dell were the victims. Perhaps, you should ask the LCD companies instead. Moreover, you can expect a class action lawsuit to be filed over this settlement.

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Guest wrote:
when can I get my refund from apple and DEll?

Hey, why don't you wimpy Guests who like insulting people at least sign your name?

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Anonymous wrote:
Corporations are not individuals - in fact one of the advantages of incorporating is that it shields individuals from personal liability. Before you post check your facts.

And that is a law which needs to be changed. The separation of personal liability from corporate action needs to be revisited and corporate protections thinned out a bit - especially in cases of criminal activity.

That being said, I suggest a massive class action suit against the corporations by anyone who has purchased an electronic device containing one of their price-fixed screens is in order, with real and punitive damages claimed.