Hitachi and Sharp in DS price-fixing probe

Hitachi and Sharp have both confirmed they have come under investigation by Japan's antitrust regulator on suspicion of fixing prices for LCD screens used in Nintendo's DS console.

According to a Bloomberg report, offices and business premises for both companies have been searched by Japan's Fair Trade Commission.

Any manufacturer found guilty of price-fixing can be fined up to 10 per cent of gains, according to Japanese law.

Sharp confirmed to GamesIndustry.biz this morning that it is "lending full support to this investigation."

Bloomberg notes that shares in Sharp fell 3.1 per cent to JPY 1976 on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, while Hitachi declined 2.3 per cent to JPY 779.

GamesIndustry.biz has contact Nintendo and Hitachi for further comment.