Highlights and Recent Activities
AMD Files New Brief with U.S. Court
AMD files May 1, 2008 brief in U.S. antitrust case detailing new evidence of Intel antitrust activities. This new brief includes newly disclosed evidence of illegal Intel business practices. Read more related court documents.
State of New York Launches Investigation of Intel: The Global Drumbeat Continues
Intel’s anticompetitive behavior is not confined to New York; from Japan to South Korea to Europe, antitrust investigations into Intel’s practices are discovering sophisticated patterns of anti-consumer and anticompetitive behavior. Read Article, Global Competition Policy (GCP) (March 17, 2008)
Intel Confronts EU Antitrust Allegations
Intel Corp. executives and lawyers appeared before European Commission officials in an effort to fend off antitrust action by the European regulator, which suspects the chip giant of anticompetitive practices. Read Article, The Wall Street Journal (March 12, 2008)
Intel Responds to EU Charges
Intel Corp. is appearing before the European Commission to answer charges that it abused its dominant market position, particularly against rival Advanced Micro Devices. Read Article, MarketWatch (March 12, 2008)
The Price of 'Chips' is an Important Consumer Issue
The European Consumers’ Organization, BEUC, says the price of ‘chips’ is an important consumer issue. BEUC has intervened in the current competition case arising from complaints against Intel from AMD. BEUC believes the good functioning of a market is a core element of consumer welfare. Read Article, BEUC Press Release (March 11, 2008)
CCIA: Major EU Decisions Seen As Fair, Balanced
“The nearly simultaneous approval of the Doubleclick merger, and the hearing on Intel's abuse of competition reflect the even-handedness of the EU,” said Ed Black, President & CEO of the Computer & Communications Industry Association. Read Press Release, Press Release CCIA (March 11, 2008)
Intel chief fights EU antitrust charges
Intel has two days, at a closed-door oral hearing starting Tuesday, to fight charges from the European Commission that the Santa Clara, California-based company abused its dominating grip on the microchip market. Read Article, AFP (March 11, 2008)
Intel CEO in Brussels, defends against antitrust charges
Intel Corp chief executive Paul Otellini arrived at a closed hearing on Tuesday to fight charges the world's largest chipmaker abused its dominance and used illegal rebates to hurt a smaller competitor. Read Article, Reuters (March 11, 2008)
OUTLOOK Intel faces off with EU regulators, competitors at hearing over chip ops
Intel Corp is preparing to defend its business practices at a two-day hearing this week here with EU regulators and industry rivals. Read Article, Thomson Financial News (March 10, 2008)
Intel Prepares for E.U. Antitrust Hearing
Intel is preparing to defend some of its questionable business dealings with PC makers at an antitrust hearing with European regulators and competitors next week. Read Article, The New York Times (March 7, 2008)
Intel to fight EU Antitrust Charges Next Week
Chipmaker Intel Corp will fight European Commission charges that it abused its dominance and gave illegal rebates to drive a smaller competitor from the market at a two-day closed hearing next week. Read Article, Reuters (March 7, 2008)
Consumer Body Asks EU To Be Included In Intel Antitrust Probe
A consumer lobby group, BEUC, said it has applied to the European Commission to be heard as an interested third party in the ongoing investigation into Intel Corp.'s (INTC) alleged anticompetitive practices. Read Press Release, BEUC Press Release (Feb. 21, 2008)
European Commission Expands Intel Antitrust Investigation into Retail Market
The European Union Commission raided Intel’s offices in Munich, Germany as well as several of Europe’s biggest consumer electronics retailers. Read News Release, (Feb. 12, 2008)
Idaho Law Firm files Complaint Against Intel
An Idaho law firm filed a complaint against Intel in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho. The suit was filed by Seiniger Law Offices PA on behalf of itself and everyone in the U.S. who purchased a processor from Intel's x86 line of chips. Read Article (PDF), Competition Law 360 (Jan. 18, 2008)
New York Attorney General Launches Antitrust Investigation of Intel
On January 10, 2008 the New York Attorney General, Andrew M. Cuomo, announced that he served Intel with a subpoena, and that investigations are underway on whether the chipmaker violated state and federal antitrust laws.
"Cuomo is investigating whether Intel violated state and federal antitrust laws by coercing customers to exclude its main rival, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), from the worldwide market for x86 computer processing units (CPU)." Press Release, Office of New York State Attorney General (Jan. 10, 2008)
AMD reacted positively to the New York Attorney General’s announcement:
"New York State's decision, based on its findings to date, to open a formal investigation of Intel's anticompetitive business practices is good news for computer buyers in NY and throughout the United States." — Tom McCoy, AMD’s Executive Vice President, Legal Affairs and Chief Administrative Officer (Jan. 10, 2008)
The New York Intel probe sparked reactions from officials, industry leaders and the media alike:
N.Y. Senator Charles Schumer voiced the need for a wider US Federal involvement in the investigations: "Antitrust investigations into Intel are springing up everywhere except Washington. It's high time the FTC woke up and started looking into practices that are harming American consumers and technological innovation. The FTC needs to stop looking the other way on Intel and start getting serious about enforcing antitrust law. The FTC is moving at a mega-hertz pace, in a gigahertz world." — New York Senator Charles E. Schumer (Jan. 10, 2008)
The American Antitrust Institute welcomed the N.Y. Intel probe in a press release on January 10, 2008.
Another positive reaction to the N.Y. State’s Intel investigation came from the Computer and Communications Industry Association, CCIA, in their press release on January 10, 2008.
A new complaint was filed in Idaho just days after the New York probe was announced:
An Idaho law firm, Seiniger Law Offices PA, filed a complaint against Intel in the U.S. District Court for the District of Idaho on behalf of itself and everyone in the U.S. who has purchased a processor from Intel's ubiquitous x86 line of chips, used in nearly all computers, directly or indirectly from Intel, since June 2001. According to the complaint:
"Those acts... include a system of discriminatory, retroactive, first-dollar rebates triggered by purchases at such high levels as to have the practical and intended effect of denying customers the freedom to purchase any significant volume of processors from AMD and others." — Competition Law 360 (PDF) (Jan. 18, 2008)
Korean Fair Trade Commission Charges Intel with Antitrust Violations
- On September 11, 2007 Intel confirmed that it had received a Statement of Objections from the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), marking the culmination of an investigation by S. Korean competition regulations into Intel's abuse of its monopoly power. KFTC official Kim Sung Man told Bloomberg that "the results [of the investigation] are about suspicions over Intel's abuse of its dominant market power in Korea."
- Read the Bloomberg Article
"With the Korea Fair Trade Commission action, a third independent antitrust agency has charged Intel with abusing its dominant position in the x86 microprocessor market. Following formal action in Japan and Europe, global scrutiny is increasingly focused on Intel’s harm to competition and consumers alike. Governments around the world must enforce antitrust laws to bring fair and open competition that will benefit computer manufacturers and buyers everywhere." — Thomas M. McCoy, AMD executive vice president, legal affairs and chief administrative officer (Sept. 11, 2007)
European Commission Charges Intel with Antitrust Violations
AMD Supports Korean Fair Trade Commission Dawn Raids as Part of Investigation Into Possible Intel Antitrust Violations
Tokyo District Court Denies Intel K.K. Argument to Keep Evidence Obtained by JFTC of Illegal Business Practices from the Public Record
AMD Supports European Commission's Dawn Intel Raids For Possible Antitrust Violations
AMD Motion for Leave to Serve Document Preservation Subpoenas Granted by U.S. District Court
AMD Japan Files Claim for Damages Arising from Violations of Japan's Antimonopoly Act
AMD Files Antitrust Complaint Against Intel in U.S. Federal District Court
Overview of Fair Trade Commission of Japan (JFTC) Recommendation against Intel for violating Japan's Antimonopoly Act
The Fair Trade Commission of Japan found in 2005 that Intel Japan K.K. ("Intel") violated Japan's Antimonopoly Act by engaging in anticompetitive business practices. The following are AMD's statements regarding Intel's antitrust violations in Japan:
- March 31, 2005
AMD Responds to Intel's "Acceptance" of The Fair Trade Commission Of Japan's Ruling that Intel Violated Antimonopoly Act
Intel's Refusal to Acknowledge JFTC Facts and Harm Caused to Competitors and Consumers is Disturbing
"It is unfortunate that even when presented with specific — and very disturbing — findings of deliberate and systematic anti-competitive behavior, Intel refuses to face the facts and admit the harm it has caused to competitors and consumers," said Thomas M. McCoy, AMD executive vice president, legal affairs and chief administrative officer.
- March 8, 2005
AMD Supports Fair Trade Commission Of Japan's (JFTC) Decision To Stop Illegal Business Practices By Intel
Intel's Unlawful Business Practices in Japan Limit Consumers' Freedom to Choose Worldwide
The JFTC found that Intel illegally manipulated the market to exclude competition, hurting PC users around the world," said Thomas M. McCoy, AMD executive vice president, legal affairs and chief administrative officer. "Using market power illegally to limit innovation and, more importantly, consumers' freedom to choose, cannot be tolerated. We encourage governments around the globe to ensure that their markets are not being harmed as well."
What the Media is Saying