Corning, under investigation by the EU for potential exclusive dealing practices, has proposed changes to its contracts with device makers and finishers. The investigation centers on Corning's Alkali-aluminosilicate glass (Alkali-AS Glass), used for mobile device displays.
Key Changes Proposed:
- Elimination of all exclusivity clauses in current and future agreements for Alkali-AS Glass.
- No purchase quotas for Alkali-AS Glass for devices sold in the EEA.
- For non-EEA devices, no requirement for OEMs to source more than 50% of their Alkali-AS Glass, transparent glass ceramics, LAS Glass, or Clear Glass Ceramics from Corning.
- Finishers are not required to source more than 50% of their NAS Glass, LAS Glass, and clear glass ceramics combined from Corning.
- Patent claims will be based solely on infringement, not contract breaches.
These changes aim to address the EU's concerns and avoid potential penalties. The EU is currently seeking industry feedback on Corning's proposals. If accepted, these commitments will be legally binding globally for nine years. This situation mirrors similar concerns over market dominance, such as those faced by Apple in its dealings with China. The outcome could impact the broader electronics market, including competitors like those mentioned in Samsung Galaxy A56 leaks. For more on tech industry legal battles, see Australia's withdrawal of its online misinformation bill.