The rumor mill is working overtime. Word has it that the DTC will appoint an ombudsman, so that any sightholder with complaints gets an institutionalized way to address those concerns. (What about the DTC brokers?)

Word is that sightholders, who don't get all the articles they applied for may, at least, see those very goods given to other sightholders. Word is that sightholders dropped from the active client list, or otherwise dissatisfied, will go to the London Court of Arbitration, where findings are never publicly disclosed, thus affording greater privacy. (And no precedence is created!)

All those rumors are related to the pending approval by the European Commission of the DTC Supplier of Choice marketing strategy. None of these rumors are fact. The truth is, that there are currently several proposals pending. Nothing has been decided; nothing has been finalized.

Assuming De Beers has submitted its proposals, then the European Competition Commission will still first have to publish these and solicit reactions from interested parties. Thereafter, the member nations of the EC will have to give their consent. Though we would have loved to present this all as 'hard news', [that makes better headlines], it must be stressed that all of these proposals still enjoy the status of, at best, trial balloons. We'll keep you posted. That's a promise.