Antitrust Law Daily Wrap Up, ANTITRUST NEWS: Rug accessory maker, FTC settle price fixing claims, (Dec 17, 2015)

By Greg Hammond, J.D.

The FTC has approved a final order settling charges that rug accessory seller Step N Grip, LLC invited its closest competitor to fix and raise prices for the companies’ competing rug devices. The FTC alleged that by inviting collusion, Step N Grip endangered competition and violated Section 5 of the FTC Act, according to the agency’s complaint (In the Matter of Step N Grip, LLC, File No. 151 0181, Dkt. C-4561).

Under the terms of the final decision and order, Step N Grip is prohibited from: (1) communicating with any competitor concerning Step N Grip or competitor prices or rates, or prospective prices or rates; (2) entering into any agreement to raise, fix, or maintain prices, allocate or divide markets or customers, or to set, change, or limit service terms or service levels; (3) pressuring, requesting, or suggesting that a competitor set or fix prices or set service terms or levels; and (4) instructing or encouraging any dealer, distributor, or seller of rug devices to engage in conduct that Step N Grip is prohibited from engaging in.

Companies: Step N Grip, LLC

News: Antitrust FederalTradeCommissionNews