2000 Burlington introduces exclusive contracts with Greek distributors.
2001 Pearson introduces exclusive contracts with Greek distributors.
2003 Floras files a complaint with the Greek Competition Commission (GCC) against distributor Apollon S.A. for abusing its dominant position.
2004 OUP introduces exclusive contract with Greek distributor Efstathiadis.
2005 The GCC extends its investigation to include Efstathiadis, Burlington, Pearson, Boukouvalas, OUP and Hillside.
27 July 2006 The GCC issues an indictment against Apollon and Efstathiadis for abuse of their joint dominant position.
6 September 2006 GCC proceedings start.
15 September 2006 Sub-saga begins: the Director of the GCC Panagiotis Adamopoulos is arrested on suspicion of corruption concerning the marketing of milk in Greece (outcome of case awaited). The GCC begins a re-examination of all the cases that Adamopoulos authorized before his arrest, including the Floras case.
March 2007 After re-examination and clearance, the Floras proceedings resume.
May 2007 The GCC discovers that there was 'a mistake' in the Floras case and that Adamopoulos' team had 'forgotten' to investigate the publishers with exclusive agreements. The GCC publishes decision 342-2007 ordering an examination of these vertical relationships.
13 July 2007 Report in The Bookseller: ELT giants dragged into Greek row.
March 2008 The GCC issues a second indictment against Apollon and Efstathiadis accusing them of abuse of their joint dominant position (case 452).
October 2008 The GCC issues an indictment against Apollon, Efstathiadis Burlington, Pearson, Boukouvalas, OUP and Hillside for price fixing etc. (case 455).
27 July 2009 The GCC issues its decision against Apollon and Efstathiadis.
6 August 2009 The GCC issues its decision against Apollon and Efstathiadis. Total fines imposed: Apollon 3,922,000 euros, Efstathiadis 6,518,000 euros, Burlington 7,823,839 euros, Pearson 1,449,000 euros, Boukouvalas 241,000 euros, OUP & Hillside 15,000 euros each. All of the companies appeal, but are rejected. Their fines have not yet been paid. The result of Pearson's appeal is awaited. Pearson redrafts all of its distribution agreements throughout Europe, omitting all of their illegal clauses (received information).
January 2010 Floras files a complaint about price fixing with the European Commission (EC) against OUP, Pearson and Burlington (case 39771). The EC expands its investigation from 5 countries to 15 Europe-wide. The EC's formal decision is awaited.
April 2010 Floras files a complaint with the GCC against OUP for price fixing. The GCC's decision is expected around August 2012.
September 2011 The Athens Public Prosecutor issues an indictment against Efstathiadis and OUP for price fixing in the Greek market during the period 2007-2010. Panayiotis, Athanasios and Susanna Eftstathiadis are ordered to attend trial, along with OUP executives Agapia Tsakiri, Ioannis Spyropoulos and Vasileios Gaitanos. The outcome of the case number EL 107-11/416/12D/2011 is on hold, pending the GCC decision.
15th November 2011 The Athens Public Prosecutor issues a summons naming four Pearson executives Paul Anderson, Kenneth Bristow, Mark Cohen and John Fallon and four Burlington executives John Knight, Victoria Lockie, Cornelis Van Gelder and Pieter Van Keulen to attend trial on 5th May 2012 on charges of price fixing.