TICKET vendor Computicket will face exclusionary conduct charges before the Competition Tribunal.
TICKET vendor Computicket will face exclusionary conduct charges before the Competition Tribunal.
In a statement yesterday the Competition Commission said it had referred the case to the tribunal for adjudication.
The referral followed five complaints that were lodged by Strictly Tickets cc, Soundalite cc (trading as Artslink), KZN Entertainment News and Reviews cc (trading as Going Places), L Square Technologies cc (trading as TicketSpace), and Ezimidlalo Technologies cc.
According to the commission, it had combined the complaints, lodged between 2008 and 2009, as they raised overlapping issues.
The commission said it found in its investigation that Computicket had entered into long-term exclusive contracts with theatre owners, theatre producers, promoters and festival event organisers in the entertainment industry, preventing them from using any other ticketing provider.
According to commissioner Shan Ramburuth, Computicket's "exclusive contracts" prevented rivals from entering the market, thereby reducing choice and convenience for consumers.
The commission has asked the tribunal to levy a 10percent administrative penalty on Computicket's 2009 turnover and to declare void and of no force and effect the exclusivity clauses in its contracts with inventory providers. - Sapa
Rivals fight against Computicket
TICKET vendor Computicket will face exclusionary conduct charges before the Competition Tribunal.
TICKET vendor Computicket will face exclusionary conduct charges before the Competition Tribunal.
In a statement yesterday the Competition Commission said it had referred the case to the tribunal for adjudication.
The referral followed five complaints that were lodged by Strictly Tickets cc, Soundalite cc (trading as Artslink), KZN Entertainment News and Reviews cc (trading as Going Places), L Square Technologies cc (trading as TicketSpace), and Ezimidlalo Technologies cc.
According to the commission, it had combined the complaints, lodged between 2008 and 2009, as they raised overlapping issues.
The commission said it found in its investigation that Computicket had entered into long-term exclusive contracts with theatre owners, theatre producers, promoters and festival event organisers in the entertainment industry, preventing them from using any other ticketing provider.
According to commissioner Shan Ramburuth, Computicket's "exclusive contracts" prevented rivals from entering the market, thereby reducing choice and convenience for consumers.
The commission has asked the tribunal to levy a 10percent administrative penalty on Computicket's 2009 turnover and to declare void and of no force and effect the exclusivity clauses in its contracts with inventory providers. - Sapa