According to a report in the Wall Street Journal, The European Commission is set to begin preliminary inquiries into complaints by other waterproof-material makers and major outdoor brands that it’s abusing its dominant position in the market for waterproof breathable membranes for footwear and gloves.
On June 13, Columbia Sportswear disclosed that it had filed a formal antitrust complaint against Gore before European Commission antitrust authorities.
Sources told the Journal that the The European Commission was sending out questionnaires to Gore and other parties as a first step in its investigation. In the U.S., the Federal Trade Commission issued subpoenas to the company in March as part of a formal antitrust probe, the paper said. The existence of the subpoenas was reported earlier this month.
Gore-Tex has denied the charges.
