Intel vs. AMD – EU weighs in
Posted in This Just In... on May 13th, 2009 by gkrakowNews reports today that after eight years of investigating, the European Union has ruled against Intel — and ordered them to pay $1.45 billion in fines for engaging in “illegal anticompetitive practices” against rival computer chip maker Advanced Micro Devices.
According to the EU, Intel’s strategy of excluding AMD by paying computer manufacturers and retailers to avoid using AMD products — denying consumers a proper choice.
Intel says they will appeal the record-breaking ruiling. They better. The U.S. Government may also be on their case. Last year, the Federal Trade Commission opened a formal investigation of Intel.
And, this week, the head of the Justice Department’s antitrust division said U.S. regulators would begin an aggressive enforcement policy against companies that abused their marketplace dominance.
For the record, the EU is still busy dealing with their 2004 decision against Microsoft — as well as investigating Cisco (for network maintenance services), IBM (target of the EU in the 80’s) and Google (for dominating Web advertising).