The President of the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection decided that the advertisement of Samsung television sets is misleading in suggesting that it is part of a government information campaign related to the digitization of television. The company has been fined more than two million zlotys for illegal practices

The proceeding against Samsung Electronics Polska was lodged in December of last year following a notice from the Ministry of Administration and Digitization. The notice pertained to an advertising campaign promoting television sets made by that producer and referring to the ongoing digitization process in Poland. In a commercial message advertising television sets, the company included many elements imitating the government campaign explaining the digitization process prepared by the Ministry of Administration and Digitization in Poland.

The conducted proceeding established that the advertising campaign of Samsung television sets misled the consumers by imitating the government information releases related to digitization. The use of elements characteristic of the campaign conducted by the Ministry of Administration and Digitization could have suggested to the clients that the Samsung commercial offer is part of the government information campaign. As a result, consumers could decide to make a purchase that they would not have done had they not received misleading information.

The Office has imposed a financial penalty of PLN 2.288 million on Samsung Electronics Polska for the infringement of collective consumer interests. Whilst defining the fine value, the Office took into account the fact that the campaign was withdrawn from the media immediately after the proceeding was lodged by the Office and that the company actively cooperated during the course of the proceeding. The decision is not final and can be appealed at the Court of Competition and Consumer Protection.

Furthermore, the Office of Competition and Consumer Protection supports the digitization process by verifying compliance with digitization regulations on the part of television set and decoder providers. In the course of ongoing audit procedures, the Trade Inspection has audited 694 entrepreneurs to the end of March 2013. Irregularities have been identified in 57 cases (8.2%). These irregularities consisted mainly of a lack of declarations from consumers purchasing older type televisions sets and decoders as well as a lack of mandatory information at the store.

Information about the digitization of ground television can be obtained by calling the toll free line 800 007 788. The particular requirements defined for digital receivers are available at the website of the Ministry of Administration and Digitization.

Additional information for the media:
Małgorzata Cieloch, UOKiK Spokesperson
Department of International Cooperation and Social Communication
Pl. Powstańców Warszawy 1, 00-950 Warszawa
Tel. 22 827 28 92, 55 60 314, 55 60 430
Fax 22 826 11 86
E-mail: malgorzata.cieloch@uokik.gov.pl