Report In Europe, Intel Faces a Large Antitrust Fine

[Amfidamant]

In Europe, Intel Faces a Large Antitrust Fine

BRUSSELS — European antitrust regulators, which have been aggressively pursuing what they see as anticompetitive practices among technology companies, could impose their largest fine ever in a market-dominance case against the chip maker Intel.

The size of the penalty will be discussed by representatives from 27 European Union governments in early May. The decision would follow landmark rulings by the European Commission against Microsoft, which also is being investigated over its Internet Explorer browser, and a settlement with I.B.M., which is again the subject of a complaint.

The commission began investigating Intel in 2000 after Advanced Micro Devices, its archrival, filed a complaint. Both chip makers are based in the United States.

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Some legal experts speculate that Intel’s fine could reach about a billion euros, or $1.3 billion. Intel’s annual sales were $37.6 billion in 2008.

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Odd that this wasn't posted here...
More on this here

 

[xxxtrickyxxx]

they do this to microsoft like every year, no surprise here.

 

[Effane]

At this point its more a Tax than a real penalty. Stopping them from doing business in an area would be moreso a true penalty, embargo goods and services from the company.

In the end though, its not about the Anti-Trust really. Its more about the general cash fund that could use another 1.0+ billion Euros to spend as they see fit.

 

[Jackal]

Looks like the EU needs more money, again.

 

[xxxtrickyxxx]

btw, they did this to Nintendo a while back too because they priced their stuff cheaper in some countries than others. pretty sad imo that every year EU cries about some antitrust violation and demands money.

 

[phyrex1an]

If you read the article you'll find that the antitrust cases against Intel isn't limited to the EU but to US, Japan and Korea as well.

 

[xxxtrickyxxx]

no but this one in particular of which the article is referring to is. EU antitrust fines are notorious for their hundreds of millions of dollar or pound fines and more frequent than any other commision or union. whats europes plan to fix every countries deficit? take it from US based companies of course.

 

[Effane]

As long as DeBeers exist I dont want to hear anything about antitrust. As long as Waste Management exist I dont want to hear about it.

We ignore the low profile monopolies and then pretend we are holier than thou by going after high profile targets. Lets be honest, its really about perception, not reality. Top that off that polititians understand that it used to be power from might, or power from the people. Now its power from money. So they are off to get more money to secure that power.

 

[tom_mai78101]

The EU never trusts the Asians. I hate that!!

 

[Wiseman_2]

Computer chipmaker Intel has been fined a record 1.06bn euros ($1.45bn; £948m) by the European Commission for anti-competitive practices.

It dwarfs the 497m euro fine levied on Microsoft in 2004 for abusing its dominant market position.

The Commission found that between 2002 and 2007, Intel had paid manufacturers and a retailer to favour its chips over those of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

Intel has announced that it will appeal against the verdict.

"Intel takes exception to this decision. We believe the decision is wrong and ignores the reality of a highly competitive microprocessor market," Intel chief executive Paul Otellini said.

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