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European Commission fines Intel ?1.06 billion for antitrust violations

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] The European Commission (EC) fined computer chip maker Intel Corp. €1.06 billion Wednesday for violating European Union antitrust laws and ordered Intel to cease engaging in the anti-competitive behaviors. The EC announced that Intel violated the laws by giving computer companies rebates to purchase nearly all of their supplies from Intel and paying companies not to use products made by Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Intel's main competitor. The EC has indicated that the fine must be paid within three months and that the 542-page decision will be published soon. AMD president and CEO Dirk Meyer hailed the ruling as "an important step toward establishing a truly competitive market." Intel announced that it would appeal the decision but would comply with it in the meantime. Intel has faced numerous antitrust suits. Last June, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) opened a probe against Intel for anti-competitive behavior. Last year, the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) fined Intel nearly $26 million after a KFTC probe found that the company had engaged in anti-competitive practices. The state of New York opened an antitrust probe into Intel's actions and AMD also filed a civil suit against the company last year.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on May 13, 2009 (boomark / email).