Japanese Music Companies Are Raided For Ringtone Monopoly

So the music industry is officially showing signs of monopoly behavior again, when it comes to ringtones…in Japan, at least. Japan’s anti-monopoly agency raided several top record companies Thursday on suspicion they illegally blocked other firms from offering music ringtone services to mobile phone users.
Sony Music Entertainment, Universal Music, EMI-Toshiba, Avex., Victor Entertainment and Label Mobile were among those raided.
The FTC there alleges that these 10 companies violated Japan’s fair trade laws by preventing the Japanese mobile phone operators from offering the service.

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