Loading ...European regulators spoke on behalf of consumers Wednesday when they issued a record €1.06 billion fine against Intel for engaging in anti-competitive practices in the European Union. In their ruling, the European Commission unequivocally found that Intel had paid to keep AMD products off shelves and out of the hands of consumers. The decision sends a strong message that it should be consumers – not companies trying to manipulate the market - who decide what products are successful. We at AMD couldn’t agree more and, fortunately, we’re not alone.
Depending on what headlines you read, Intel was either “slapped” (ChannelInsider), “slammed” (BusinessWeek) or “punished” (Economist) by the European Commission’s ruling on Wednesday. Some reporters went further, with the Economist writing that he European Commission had wielded its “heaviest antitrust hammer against Intel.”
Matthew Newman of Bloomberg reported one EU regulator’s comment that, “Intel’s unlawful practices must stop immediately” and that it would “actively monitor Intel’s compliance with this decision.”
For those still wading through the flood of news, we’d recommend checking out this growing list of excellent coverage:
- A must read is Chris O’Brien’s piece at the San Jose Mercury News where he asks if Intel execs have “lost their moral compass.”
- Or check out Fortune, where Roger Parloff explores what the ruling means for Intel’s credibility (hint: it’s not good)
Also, be sure to check out Nigel Dessau’s blog post on the topic and also keep up with ongoing coverage via our FriendFeed link.
Overall, the word is out about Intel’s anti-competitive practices. And while the European Commission’s ruling won’t be a surprise to AMD Unprocessed readers, it’s good to be vindicated by so many independent sources. Stay tuned for additional updates.
Michael Silverman is a senior manager of public relations at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such links sites and no endorsement is implied.
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#1 by Marc - May 21st, 2009 at 10:13
Eye opening news for those who blindly put forth their faith on Intel. Intel will rapidly lose market share due to EC fine however they will definitely appeal against the verdict. Michael what do you say about the possible circumstances of appeal?
#2 by Mike Silverman - May 21st, 2009 at 10:39
Marc, thanks for your comment. While Intel does have the right to appeal, the EC’s ruling, penalties and remedies are effective immediately. So, while Intel has already said that it plans to appeal, it must comply immediately with the remedies and do so throughout the appeal process. That means no more payments conditioned on exclusivity, no coercion, no threats or intimidation.