Saturday, May 2nd 2009
Intel to be Slapped with Greatest Fine in EU History
It is predicted that silicon giant Intel may face the greatest fine for its alleged anti-competitive practices, in a case heard in the European Union. Intel is currently being investigated for irregularities including encouraging hardware vendors not to use AMD products, and offering discounts. Legal analysts estimate the fine to be well over 1,000,000,000 EUR, over double that of what is heading Microsoft's way. In a statement to the New York Times, says Howard Cartlidge, head of the EU competition group at law firm Olswang in London, "I would be surprised if the fine isn't as high or higher than in the Microsoft case. Technology markets are where the European Commission has perceived particular problems due to dominant companies."
The ongoing trial in EU runs parallel to similar anti-competition trials in Japan and Korea, where Intel is found guilty. It is a joint effort between EU and United States Federal Trade Commission investogators. Despite previous convictions, Intel maintains that it has done nothing wrong and is confident of being found innocent. Says Intel spokesperson Robert Manetta, "Overall, Intel's conduct is lawful, pro-competitive and beneficial to consumers." Naturally, AMD begs to differ. Sources in AMD reveal that Intel conducted anti-competitive practices throughout, to maintain an 80-20 competition. The number took very little change even when AMD was at the peak of technology advancement over Intel.
Source:
TechConnect Magazine
The ongoing trial in EU runs parallel to similar anti-competition trials in Japan and Korea, where Intel is found guilty. It is a joint effort between EU and United States Federal Trade Commission investogators. Despite previous convictions, Intel maintains that it has done nothing wrong and is confident of being found innocent. Says Intel spokesperson Robert Manetta, "Overall, Intel's conduct is lawful, pro-competitive and beneficial to consumers." Naturally, AMD begs to differ. Sources in AMD reveal that Intel conducted anti-competitive practices throughout, to maintain an 80-20 competition. The number took very little change even when AMD was at the peak of technology advancement over Intel.
142 Comments on Intel to be Slapped with Greatest Fine in EU History
edit: and i would like to point out that this action by the EU has nothing to do with being "fair" in the business world. it has to do with the EU putting billions of dollars into what they call "Silicon Saxony" in Germany where there are 3 major chip manufacturers, AMD being one of them. These manufacturers who fabricate the AMD chips cant get any business now and that means AMD can't make a profit on their new "Asset Light" strategy. So the EU is gonna fine the crap outta Intel. You can google all of this information if you want.
Removing competition by force is neither legal nor ethical. It ruins industry and freedom of choice in products.
Intel did not force anyone to not use AMD, they simply gave discounts to those how used only Intel. Nothing was stopping AMD from making the same offers, and I highly doubt they didn't make the same types of deals. The companies that accepted Intel's deal could have easily said no and used both companies.
This is really one of those deals where every other governing body accepts this practice because there is nothing wrong with it in the business world, it is a part of competition, but the EU suddenly makes it illegal and picks the biggest company it can to hand down a huge fine.$1 Billion is a huge amount of money, a nice injection into a failing economy.
Yeah You Sure???
Like You was there or something...
:slap:
if intel pays it it does not go to amd it stays in the EU
The Nehalem chipset licensing issue was that nVidia didn't want to pay Intel to license the QPI tech, they want Intel to give it to them and let them use it for free. By the time nVidia finally realized Intel wasn't going to do that(and why would they), it was already too late for nVidia. The only person to blame there is nVidia.
Bribing political bodies it a bold claim, where are you getting this information from?