Japan's Fair Trade Commission searched the offices and outlets of both Sharp and Hitachi after reports surfaced that the companies were fixing prices of the LCDs that are used in Nintendo DS units.
Under Japan's fair trade regulations, any manufacturer found guilty of price fixing can be fined up to 10 percent of profits deemed to have been gained illegally.
Given the popularity of the DS and the number of units sold, the potential fine in the case of Sharp and Hitachi could be enormous should the allegations prove true.
Sharp, Hitachi Displays Probed by Japan's Regulator [Bloomberg]
