As suspected, the European Union formally lodged antitrust charges against Intel, accusing the CPU maker of using illegal methods to compete against its main rival AMD. "I can confirm the statement of objections has been sent," European Commission spokesperson Ton Van Lierop said in a statement given to Reuters. This action represents the culmination of years of antitrust investigation by the EU—and is likely beginning of a very unpleasant experience for Intel. While the exact Statement of Objection (SO) has not yet been made public, the EU charges that Intel used illegal methods to coerce OEM computer manufacturers to ship systems with Intel rather than AMD processors.
The investigation in Europe has been going on for a long time. Intel's European offices were raided by EU investigators in 2005. Last year, AMD filed a formal complaint with the Bundeskartellamt, the German Federal Cartel Office, accusing a German and Intel of entering into an agreement under which the German retailer would only sell Intel PCs in exchange for undisclosed payments from Intel. The EC quickly took over that investigation from the Bundeskartellamt.
View: Full Article @ ArsTechnica
The investigation in Europe has been going on for a long time. Intel's European offices were raided by EU investigators in 2005. Last year, AMD filed a formal complaint with the Bundeskartellamt, the German Federal Cartel Office, accusing a German and Intel of entering into an agreement under which the German retailer would only sell Intel PCs in exchange for undisclosed payments from Intel. The EC quickly took over that investigation from the Bundeskartellamt.
View: Full Article @ ArsTechnica
Now if you had your house robbed and you reported it would you expect the police not to investigate and charge someone if they found evidence that they were guilty?
Do you honestly believe that or are you just trying to be cool? If you do then that is very sad and it shows you obviously have little grasp on economics or the reality of what these businesses get up to. Intel and Microsoft have BOTH abused their position, putting pressure on OEMs in an anti-competitive manner. It is good that the EU is protecting the interests of its citizens rather than pandering to big business like the US government.
What a ridiculous comment to make. You know, as if Charles Babbage one of the fathers of modern computing contributed nothing... and Tim Berners Lee creating the World Wide Web as we know it.. or the jet engine as designed by Sir Frank Whittle and Dr. Hans von Ohain.
Think before you open your mouth.
Last edited by Chicane-UK on 27 Jul 2007 - 18:29
The EU is just like the NAACP. Always bitching about something, trying to get something else for free.
WHY WOULD THEY NOT WANT FREE MONEY?
Go ahead, EU: Find them guilty. Good luck collecting, though.
The money Microsoft generates from sales in Europe far exceeds what the fine is.
AMD would LOVE for Intel to pull out of the European market.
If they keep the U.S. government will have to do something.
It's not as if the EU targets only American companies, BAE systems the UK's biggest arms manufacturer is currently under investigation for bribery by the EU.
If I remember it correctly, police found that Intel payed computer manufacturers to keep AMD out.
Last edited by Joni_78 on 27 Jul 2007 - 18:56
Correct. Why they kept evidence against themselves is beyond me.
If I remember it correctly, police found that Intel payed computer manufacturers to keep AMD out.
as an intel reseller I get REBATES for products I sell and thats perfectly legal even if I do not pass that on to the customer or to the customer right away
If a European murdered a European in America don't you think he should be tried the US rather than in the European courts?
Last edited by zaber on 29 Jul 2007 - 17:20
That's absolutely ridiculous - I think it just shows the mentality of US corporations that think they are above the law. It's very sad if you think the EU sits there just picking on innocent US companies that couldn't possibly have done anything wrong. NEway, there is no mention of any fine being imposed upon Intel - this is just an objection to their illegal business practices.
Sometimes I honestly think this forum is full of idiots that have little grasp of how the world works and only listen to political propaganda put out to support a nationalist agenda. If a company breaks the law then that needs to be addressed... even IF the EU was only targeting US businesses (of which there is NO evidence to support) that STILL means that they broke the law in the first place regardless of whether businesses from within the EU did the same.
No, but it's happy to back down as soon as money is waved in its direction.
I'm not for the kind of serial extortion that the EC has pulled on Microsoft, but in this instance, maybe one good fat fine would show them the error of their ways.
America,wake up!
"And still our US businesses try to manipulate markets unfairly for their own capitalist gain. America needs to wake up and teach its businesses to operate fairly and with respect to foreign markets."
the deal with microsoft is a bit iffy but this one just blunt idiocy on intel behalf but they would have been fully aware this was coming, so they deserve it.
Corporations in the EU should think long and hard about their future; it's only a matter of time before the eye turns to them.
Last edited by bangbang023 on 30 Jul 2007 - 12:54
Good job with the HUGE font. You deserve an A.
And how you've not being warned for the "**** you" comment is beyond me.
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