Disney, French Retailers Fined in Antitrust Case

France’s competition watchdog fined a unit of Walt Disney Co., French retailers Casino and Carrefour and wholesaler SDO a total of 14.4 million euros ($17.25 million) for alleged price fixing.

France’s Competition Council said Disney’s distributor in France, Buena Vista Home Entertainment, kept prices of tapes of children’s features “artificially high” by agreeing on them with Casino, Carrefour and SDO between 1995 and 1998.

The Council said it had cut the fines by 25% to 40% after the four companies agreed not to contest them and pledged to change their practices.