Anti-Trust Case of AUO, Taiwan's LCD Company
Anti-trust case of AUO (Taiwan's LCD company)
Abstract
Before China, Taiwan used to be a world-factory. Taiwan’s technical companies always focus on improving their progress on product. The past 20 years, Taiwan's technological competitiveness is becoming increasingly improving. Taiwan's Information and Communication (ICT) industry plays a significant role in the international market. Goods from Taiwan export to the United States and Europe region are increasing a lot. However, Taiwan’s companies facing patent infringement litigation, as well as facing antitrust law investigation become more often, especially in LCD panel industry. Here are some statistics provide us to discuss how much would it cost due to antitrust law investigation. During last five years, four Taiwan’s LCD companies paid totally 375 million dollars penalty to the U.S and 435 million Euros penalty to Europe region. Moreover, in the past two years, four LCD companies do not earn profit in their business because of bad economic situation. Therefore, it is worse that they have to pay a huge fine. These facts give me some room to discuss ethical issues. Are there different ethics between two countries? Why the firm is doing well in Taiwan but being charged antitrust in the U.S? How can two corporates compete if they have distinctly divergent ethics? I will argue the issue from some points of view related to ethical standards. First, I would like to introduce more about this event.
Event
AUO and the TFT-LCD Investigation The AUO trial was part of a long-running antitrust investigation into the TFT-LCD industry. AUO is a Taiwanese company that has become one of the world's leading manufacturers of TFT-LCD panels, which are the screens that are inserted into flat-screen monitors and displays, among other things. These finished products are then sold in the United States and around the world. Over the last decade, AUO has become one of Taiwan's largest companies. AUO's website
Abstract
Before China, Taiwan used to be a world-factory. Taiwan’s technical companies always focus on improving their progress on product. The past 20 years, Taiwan's technological competitiveness is becoming increasingly improving. Taiwan's Information and Communication (ICT) industry plays a significant role in the international market. Goods from Taiwan export to the United States and Europe region are increasing a lot. However, Taiwan’s companies facing patent infringement litigation, as well as facing antitrust law investigation become more often, especially in LCD panel industry. Here are some statistics provide us to discuss how much would it cost due to antitrust law investigation. During last five years, four Taiwan’s LCD companies paid totally 375 million dollars penalty to the U.S and 435 million Euros penalty to Europe region. Moreover, in the past two years, four LCD companies do not earn profit in their business because of bad economic situation. Therefore, it is worse that they have to pay a huge fine. These facts give me some room to discuss ethical issues. Are there different ethics between two countries? Why the firm is doing well in Taiwan but being charged antitrust in the U.S? How can two corporates compete if they have distinctly divergent ethics? I will argue the issue from some points of view related to ethical standards. First, I would like to introduce more about this event.
Event
AUO and the TFT-LCD Investigation The AUO trial was part of a long-running antitrust investigation into the TFT-LCD industry. AUO is a Taiwanese company that has become one of the world's leading manufacturers of TFT-LCD panels, which are the screens that are inserted into flat-screen monitors and displays, among other things. These finished products are then sold in the United States and around the world. Over the last decade, AUO has become one of Taiwan's largest companies. AUO's website