The Competition Board ("Board"), in its decision dated 17.11.2011 and numbered 11-57/1470-5271, decided that integrated circuit implementation in cartridges branded Xerox does not create an abuse of dominant position as stated in Article 6 of the Act No. 4054 on the Protection of Competition ("Competition Act") since this system does not prevent consumers to buy cartridges from third party cartridge producers than Xerox.

Competition Infringement Allegation

During the preliminary investigation, it was alleged that the integrated circuit implementation in the Xerox branded cartridges prevents interoperability of third party cartridges for printers of this brand.

Integrated Circuit Implementation

The Board, as a result of the examination it conducted, has reached the following information concerning Xerox branded cartridges from Xerox Buro Araclari Ticaret ve Servis A.S. ("Xerox"):

  • There are implemented circuits in more than 50 toner cartridges of Xerox for Xerox branded printer models, still being sold in the market
  • The integrated circuit in Xerox branded printers may be used for different purposes such as (i) to determine whether the said cartridge pertains to the relevant printer, (ii) the follow-up of the cartridge life and to inform the consumer accordingly, (iii) to report the cartridge level in printers which can be remotely controlled.
  • Integrated circuits are also implemented in various competitors' cartridges2 active in the market.
  • The cartridge with integrated circuit may technically be re-used. As a matter of fact, a discharged cartridge may be refilled by means of resetting or replacing the integrated circuit.
  • Different options exist in case a cartridge runs out: (i) an original cartridge may be purchased in lieu of the discharged cartridge, (ii) a cartridge indicated as compatible with various printer models may be purchased, (iii) the discharged cartridge may be refilled by means of resetting or replacing the integrated circuit.
  • The use of an original cartridge assures a high quality printing performance. However, the use of optional ways such as refilling of a discharged cartridge may pose risks of poor quality printing or even result with a breakdown of the printer notwithstanding these ways are financially more advantageous.

Abuse of a Dominant Position

The Board, by taking into account that the abusive behavior related to the claim is a unilateral behavior, stated that it may only constitute an abuse of a dominant position. Indeed, Article 4 of the Competition Act, regulating agreements and concerted practices between undertakings or decisions and practices of associations of undertakings, requires the presence of at least two undertakings.

The Board, in order to evaluate whether this claim constitutes an abuse of dominant position pursuant to Article 6 of the Competition Act or not, first determined the element of relevant market and then examined whether Xerox is in a dominant position.

Determination of the Relevant Market

Relevant Product Market. The Board stated that markets including products such as printers are "primary" or "initial" markets because they require, in due course, the use of supplementary products or services; And the markets, including products and services such as replacement parts, consumable materials, repair or maintenance and repair services used with the principal product and necessitated after the lapse of a certain period as of the purchase of the principal product, are "secondary" or "consecutive" markets. The Board pointed out that, in case of existence of secondary markets, the market may be defined in three different ways:

  • The system market including both the primary and secondary products;
  • The complete secondary market including replacement parts, consumable material or service for all brands in the primary market;
  • The brand-specific secondary market including replacement parts, consumable material, technical service, maintenance and repair services related to any brand.

Nevertheless, the Board, despite having made all these determinations, did not specifically delineate the relevant market and assumed that the market was, in the strict sense, the market of consumable material (or ink/toner cartridges) used for Xerox branded printers.

Relevant Geographical Market. The Board did not make any determination concerning the relevant geographical market in its decision.

A Dominant Position Evaluation

The Board, despite not having specifically determined the relevant market, particularly examined Xerox's position in the secondary market with a view to determine whether Xerox is in a dominant position or not.

Secondary (Ink/Toner Cartridges) Market. The Board, in examining Xerox's position in the secondary market, took in account the XXV. Report on Competition Policy3 ("Competition Report") of the European Commission ("Commission") and made the dominant position evaluation in accordance with the following criteria; the price and life of the product in the primary market, the transparency of the prices in the secondary market, the balance between the products' price and the principal product's price in this market and the level of the costs in the process of obtaining all this information4.

The Board, as a result of the examination it has conducted, determined that the low price difference between the Xerox branded printer and cartridge and the total cost of the toner cartridge proportionally outweighs the cost of the printer. Furthermore, the Board also stated that the cartridges' prices are accessible and that the passage costs between printers are not high. In the light of the foregoing, the Board determined that it is possible to switch between different printers.

In conclusion, the Board set forth that the above-stated determinations depict that Xerox cannot increase its prices in the secondary market independently from the primary market and concluded that Xerox is not in a dominant position in the relevant market.

Primary (Printer) Market. The Board, in order to determine whether Xerox is in dominant position or not, examined the breakdown of the market shares held by competitor parties operating in the primary market and determined that 3-4 undertakings have higher market shares than Xerox in the relevant market5.

Decision

The Board examined both the printer market corresponding to the primary market and the ink/toner cartridges market (used in Xerox branded printers) corresponding to the secondary market.

As a result of the examination, the Board determined that, despite the integrated circuit implementation, cartridges may also be obtained through refilling of the cartridge and / or the use of a compatible cartridge, procured from other sources than Xerox, and stated that there are other competitor undertakings, which act in the same way.

In conclusion, the Board decided that Xerox is not in a dominant position in the consumable material (or ink/toner cartridges) for Xerox branded printers market. For that reason, the Board decided not to initiate an investigation against Xerox.

Evaluation

We understand from the Board's decision that the Board has in reality examined whether Xerox is in a dominant position in the secondary market or not. As a matter of fact, the Board had already determined in its decision dated 15.08.2008 and numbered 08-33/417-143 that Xerox is not in a dominant position in the primary (printer) market. In other words, in this decision, the Board has in reality examined if Xerox is in a dominant position in the secondary market even if it is not in a dominant position in the primary market. The below evaluations may be made concerning the said decision:

  • All the information reached by the Board during the preliminary investigation is related to the secondary market;
  • The Board did not specifically determine the relevant market. However, in order to determine whether an undertaking is in a dominant position, the relevant market shall be specifically determined. As a matter of fact, in accordance with the relevant market, the assessment whether an undertaking is in a dominant position or not may change;
  • The Board, in evaluating the dominant position of Xerox, first examined its position in the secondary market and referred to the criteria stated in the Commission Report. For the examination of the primary market, the Board did not make any determination with regards to the dominant position, however, merely stated that there are 3-4 undertakings which have more market power than Xerox.

The Board has provided, by this decision, a new dimension to the notion of "dominant position" set forth in the Competition Act. As a matter of fact, it is commonly agreed that an undertaking is in dominant position in the primary market because it may control the economical parameters in that market. However, this decision introduces a completely new perspective and reveals that an undertaking, despite not being in dominant position in the primary market, may be in dominant position in the secondary market.

This possibility was also examined in 1995 within the Pelikan / Kyocera case6 in the European Union. Even though the Commission decided with this case that Kyocera was not in dominant position in the primary market, it stated that an undertaking not in dominant position in the primary market may be in dominant position in the secondary market and determined the criteria to be taken into account within the examination.

As it can be seen from the decision, in order for the competition to be fully protected in the relevant market, the dominant position evaluation shall be made in two steps. The dominant position shall first be examined in the primary market, then in the secondary market. The sole evaluation of the dominant position in the primary market may result in a deficient investigation and result in consequences disrupting the competition.

Finally, it shall be indicated that explanations stated in the said decision are extremely poor and do not permit a good understanding of the subject matter. Nevertheless, important decisions such as this decision should have been drafted in more detail by the Board.

Footnotes

To review the decision, see the following link:

1. http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/Resources/GerekceliKurulKararlari/karar4468.pdf (accessed on: 18.01.2013).

2. Some undertakings which have integrated circuit implementation are as follows: HP, Samsung, OKI, Epson, Lexmark, Philips, Sagem, Utax, Sharp, Develop and Olivetti.

3. To review the Commission Repot, see the following link: http://ec.europa.eu/competition/publications/annual_report/1995/fr.pdf.

4. See § 85 - 86 of the Commission Report. These criteria are also stated in the decision dated 15.08.2008 and numbered 08-33/417-143 of the Board on printers branded Xerox. To consult the decision, see the following link: http://www.rekabet.gov.tr/Resources/GerekceliKurulKararlari/karar2433.pdf (accessed on: 18.01.2013).

5. The Board has already determined that Xerox was in dominant position in the primary (printer) market in its decision dated 15.08.2008 and numbered 08-33/417-143. For detailed information, see fn. 4.

6. See § 85 - 86 of the Commission Report. The Commission also analyzed this subject respectively in Info-Lab/Ricoh, Hugin Kassaregister AB and Hugin Case Register Ltd, Hilti AG and Tetra Pak International AG cases. For detailed information, see. Van Beal, Ivo / Van Bael & Bellis, Competition Law of the European Community, The Hague 2005, p. 149, fn. 526, http://books.google.com.tr/books?id=Xzo8eA_MenEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=Van+Bael+%26+Bellis&hl=tr&sa=X&ei=b0tLT4HfDIry8QPa78XbCw&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=Pelikan&f=false

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