The US-based glass maker is the company behind Gorilla Glass, a shatter-resistant glass used to protect screens and used in essentially all of the most popular smartphones. Today, the European Commission Corning for anticompetitive practices, alleging that the glass maker prevents competition through exclusive supply agreements.
According to the press release, Corning requires mobile phone manufacturers to source all or nearly all of their alkaline-AS glass and also provides rebates to these companies if they do so. Additionally, these phone makers must inform Corning if they receive competitive offers from other glass manufacturers. They cannot accept these offers unless Corning cannot match or beat the price.
Similarly, Corning has agreements with companies that process raw glass, requiring them to source all or most of their alkaline-AS glass from Corning. They are also not allowed to challenge Corning's patents.
These charges reinforce how aggressive Corning is in defending its dominant position in the smartphone glass display market. The latest Apple and Android devices, such as the , often have Gorilla Glass screens, as they are scratch-resistant and prevent them from cracking or breaking. While not indestructible, glass resists damage well. However, Corning's market dominance, along with these practices, are enough to draw the attention of the EU.
