Modelling Giant Agencies and Union Fined 2.4 million Euros by France for Established Collusion on Prices
In a landmark decision, several prominent modelling agencies, including Elite, IMG, and Next, representing top models like Kate Moss, Gigi Hadid, and Karlie Kloss, were fined between €80,000 and €300,000 by the Amsterdam District Court. The fines were a result of the agencies' involvement in price-fixing practices, a revelation that shook the fashion industry.
The investigation, conducted by the Dutch competition authority, uncovered that 37 modelling agencies, representing almost the entire market turnover, had participated in meetings on union pricing schedules. These schedules, distributed to union members through letters, emails, and the union website, covered not only minimum salaries but also the total price invoiced for modelling services, with variations of up to three times the minimum salary.
The professional union of modelling agencies, SYNAM, was also fined €50,000 for drawing up and distributing these pricing schedules from 2000 to 2010. This is not the first time that SYNAM has been in the crosshairs of the competition authority. Previously, the French Competition Authority fined SYNAM for price fixing and anti-competitive practices, a fact that is not directly addressed in the current search results.
The case gained significant attention when Dutch model Ananda Marchildon won a lawsuit against Elite Models. She was awarded €65,000 due to the agency's refusal to book her for a job because of her body shape, a decision that underscores the ongoing issue of body image standards in the modelling industry.
Interestingly, a California bill (AB 2539) has been introduced to protect the health of professional models, signalling a growing awareness and concern about the wellbeing of models in the industry.
It's worth noting that this article does not provide information about advertising services agreements or their related questions. For a detailed and updated history or specifics about fines and sanctions against SYNAM or other modelling agencies, official sources from the French Competition Authority's website or official releases would be the best reference.
This news serves as a reminder of the importance of fair competition and ethical practices in the modelling industry, and the ongoing efforts to ensure the wellbeing of models.
The investigations into modeling agencies' practices revealed that they were not only manipulating minimum salaries but also the total price invoiced for modeling services, which fall under the 'finance' and 'business' categories. The professional union of modeling agencies, SYNAM, was also found to be distributing these price-fixing schedules, an activity that crosses into the broader 'industry' sector.
