Nvidia proposes price-fixing settlement

 

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By Stuart Turton

Posted on 30 Sep 2008 at 10:41

Nvidia has proposed a settlement over allegations that it colluded with ATI to fix graphics card prices.

The settlement, filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission, would see Nvidia contribute $850,000 into a $1.7 million fund that would be used to pay off the plaintiffs in the class action suit. Though it's not stated in the proposal, ATI is widely anticipated to make a matching contribution to the fund.

The proposal still requires the approval of the court, but if granted it would see all claims against Nvidia dismissed by the plaintiffs. Nvidia says the deal does not require it to pay any of the plaintiffs legal fees, or other fees associated with the case.

The company is also offering $112,500 to plaintiffs in a separate price fixing suit, which did not gain class action status. Nvidia wants the claims dropped and the people involved in the case to stop seeking an appeal of the verdict. According to the graphics card company, this deal does not require court approval.

The lawsuits were brought against the companies in July, alleging they "conspired to fix, raise, maintain and stabilise prices of GPUs sold in the United States". They sought compensation for any customer who bought a Nvidia or AMD graphics card between 4 December 2002 and 7 November 2007.