EU opens antitrust probe into Align Technology over Invisalign, scanner tying

BRUSSELS, June 30 (Reuters) - The European Commission said on Tuesday that it has opened an antitrust investigation into U.S.-based Align Technology over suspected tying of its iTero intra-oral scanners to Invisalign clear aligners in the European Economic Area.

Here are some more details:

• iTero intra-oral scanners are digital imaging systems that produce 3D scans of oral anatomy, according to the company website, and are typically used by dental professionals to order clear aligners.

• The European Commission said it was concerned that Align, which makes clear aligners and dental scanners, may have unfairly leveraged its Invisalign clear aligners by effectively forcing dental professionals to purchase its iTero scanner if they wish to order Invisalign, potentially restricting competition.

• The probe, prompted by a complaint from a competitor, will assess whether the practices breach EU competition rules.

• Align decribed the European Commission's move as "purely procedural" and said it does not constitute an accusation or a finding of wrongdoing.

• The company affirmed that its practices comply with applicable competition law, and said it will cooperate fully with the Commission.

(Reporting by Charlotte Van Campenhout and Ruchika Khanna in Bengaluru; Editing by Sharon Singleton and Sherry Jacob-Phillips)