Puzzling between some and silence among others. This could be the summary of the reaction to the announcement of the National Commission of Markets and Competition (CNMC) to open a file to the six major film distributors, a company measuring audiences and another provider of digitalization services. The investigation, that is, would deal with alleged restrictive practices of competition.

Such devices, as the note released this morning by the CNMC, "would consist of the agreement between the large distributors and the company Ymagis [dedicated to the digitalization of the rooms] to standardize their commercial policies. As well as the exchange of commercially sensitive information among the big distributors, with the collaboration of the Rentrak audience measurement company, in the Spanish film distribution market. "

From the last body cited, Rentrak, a spokesman simply states that the matter is in the hands of lawyers. From Disney, the largest of the corporations under review, the only comment is that there will be no comments. And from the possible benefits of the file prospering, independent distributors grouped in ADICINE, the bewilderment: "The truth is that the possible complaint has not arisen from us," said spokesman Miguel Morales from Seminci.

Specifically, the proceedings are directed against 14 firms: The Walt Disney Company Iberia, SL and , jointly and severally, its British parent The Walt Disney Company Limited; Sony Pictures Entertainment Iberia SL. and, in the same way, its British parent Columbia Pictures Corporation LTD; Warner Bros Entertainment España SL. and its Dutch parent Warner Bros Entertainment Nederland BV .; Hispano Foxfilm , SAE; Universal Pictures International Spain SL; Paramount Spain SL. and its British parent company Paramount Pictures International Limited; Ymagis Spain SL. and its French parent company, Ymagis SA .; Rentrak Spain SL. and its Dutch parent company Rentrak BV.

Once the investigation is opened, a maximum period of 18 months is opened for the investigation of the file and for its resolution by the CNMC , "without the opening of this file prejudging the final result of the investigation", clarifies the press release. Agreements between competitors constitute a very serious violation of competition law. It can lead to fines of up to 10% of the total turnover of the offending companies.

To end up in a fine, it would not be the first time. Already in 2015, the same group of companies was ordered to pay 2.5 million for agreeing on their business strategies. It should be taken into account that three out of four films distributed in Spain belong to one of these firms.

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