On April 16, 2025, the Bundeskartellamt, Germany's competition authority, announced significant penalties against Sennheiser electronic SE & Co. KG and Sonova Consumer Hearing Sales Germany GmbH. The fines, amounting to almost six million euros, were imposed due to violations of competition law concerning vertical price fixing.

The investigation revealed that both companies engaged in practices that restricted price competition in the distribution of premium headphones. This behavior is considered a serious infringement of antitrust regulations, as it undermines market dynamics and consumer choice.

In addition to the companies, three responsible employees were also held accountable in this case. The Bundeskartellamt's decision underscores its commitment to enforcing competition laws and maintaining fair market conditions in Germany.