Original URL: http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/01/17/intel_vs_ec/
European Commission investigators have called on the organisation to bring Intel to book over alleged anti-competitive business practices.
There's no official word on the outcome of the EU's long-running probe into claims that Intel abused its market lead to hinder its competitors, but according to the Wall Street Journal today, citing sources said to be close to the probe, investigators will recommend formal charges against the chip giant.
The key word is 'recommend', and EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes has asked for more details before making her decision, the WSJ reports. Bbut it's hard to imagine that she reject the advice of her staff.
The EU has examined Intel's business practices in Europe for six years, but the investigation was renewed somewhat in 2005 after AMD formally accused its arch-rival of anti-competitive actions, launching legal action in Japan and the US (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/06/30/amd_japan_sues_intel/). The lawsuits followed a ruling by Japan's competition watchdog (http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/05/09/intel_japan_ban/) that Intel had abused its market leadership there.
That's a charge Intel denies, similarly rejecting such claims in other markets. Even so, EC officials raided Intel premises (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/12/ec_raids_intel/) in July 2005, as part their investigation.
In July 2006, AMD formally complained (http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/07/14/amd_intel_complaint_germany/) to the German government that Intel colluded with the retail giant Metro Group's Media Markt and Saturn store chains. German investigators later delivered evidence (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/12/intel_markt_amd/) to the EC probe. ®
EC denies 'provisional decision' on Intel anti-trust probe (28 May 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/05/28/ec_denies_provisional_intel_decision/
AMD now has 'more than allegations' against Intel (5 May 2008)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/05/amd_intel_brief_may_5_2008/
Intel's Otellini faces Brussels court (11 March 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/03/11/intel_ec_evidence/
Intel overwhelmed by EU complaints (22 February 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/02/22/intel_barrett_eu_gripe/
Intel and Dixons raided by Competition Commission (12 February 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/02/12/intel_dixons_raided/
New York launches antitrust probe against Intel (10 January 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/01/10/new_york_intel_antitrust_probe/
Intel coughs up EC anti-trust furball (7 January 2008)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2008/01/07/intel_eu_antitrust_response/
South Korea chucks antitrust charges at Intel (11 September 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/11/south_koreans_file_antitrust_charges_against_intel/
US antitrust group urges Intel investigation (30 August 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/30/aai_wants_intel_probe_expansion/
Intel responds to EU's anti-trust statement (27 July 2007)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2007/07/27/intel_european_commission_objections/
Spanish telco defiant over huge broadband anti-trust fine (5 July 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/07/05/telefonica_eu_antitrust/
EC unveils strategy for spectrum liberalisation (21 February 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/21/ec_radio_spectrum_strategy/
EC earmarks €50m for online scientific data storage (16 February 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/02/16/ec_scientific_data_storage/
Siemens buys UGS and pays fine (25 January 2007)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/01/25/siemens_fined/
AMD, Intel and others to serve 100 subpoenas (23 June 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/06/23/amd_intel_serve_subpoenas/
AMD calls on Skype for Intel anti-trust evidence (2 March 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/03/02/amd_subpoenas_skype/
Koreans conduct 'dawn raid' of Intel offices (9 February 2006)
http://www.reghardware.co.uk/2006/02/09/intel_korea_offices_raided/
Korea mounts Intel antitrust probe (9 August 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/08/09/intel_korea_probe/
EC raids Dell in Intel anti-trust probe (18 July 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/18/ec_raids_dell/
EC officials raid Intel offices (12 July 2005)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/07/12/ec_raids_intel/
AMD Japan sues Intel for $50m damages - and then some (30 June 2005)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/06/30/amd_japan_sues_intel/
Japan.gov bans Intel for two months (9 May 2005)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/05/09/intel_japan_ban/
Intel Japan faces anti-trust action (7 February 2005)
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2005/02/07/intel_japan_trouble/
EC relaunches Intel antitrust probe (9 June 2004)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/06/09/intel_ec_probe/