This is all pretty standard procedure, and totally expected after the
company's rebuttal this summer, but Intel is responding to EU's antitrust charges against them and will seek a hearing. The specific charges and Intel's response are still confidential, which means there aren't a lot of specifics about the mud slinging between these two, but the general thrust is that the EU thinks Intel is hurting competition and therefore consumers by offering chips below cost, and semi-bribing manufacturers to sell Intel exclusively. Obviously, Intel's saying it stuck to the law in this situation. Stakes are high, since the EU can fine companies up to 10% of global revenues, and it certainly looks like we're in for a protracted fight on this one.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
E71 @ Jan 8th 2008 2:27PM
Why do I never come across any articles that read something along the lines of the EU going after European companies?
Let's fight 'em and hit 'em hard.
ScareyJ @ Jan 8th 2008 2:42PM
Agreed, the EU might as well be labeled the European Mob. Fanboy or not, we saw the writing on the wall when they slapped Microsoft with the record fine ($500M+) ... that went against our traditional understanding that the host country deal with antitrust remedies. Expect more American companies hit with similar ... considering how the EU makes side deals to aid Airbus and other European companies at the cost of fair competition for Boeing, General Electric, etc.
chris @ Jan 8th 2008 3:28PM
errr... they do. all the time.
BT, British Airways and many other european companies have been fined by the EU for similar things.
Don't get on your high horse just because you think an American company has the right to abuse its dominant position.
Kazabet @ Jan 8th 2008 3:46PM
Because this is an American based blog, and an EU company getting hit by EU law isn't exactly American news worthy.
glennh @ Jan 8th 2008 3:41PM
Let's not start on Boeing and "fair" competition. They've had more subsidies and "research contracts" than anyone. The US govt does just as much to support them as Europe does for Airbus. Ever heard of the "Boeing bank"?
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3827/is_200604/ai_n16139299
lyndon666 @ Jan 8th 2008 3:06PM
"Why do I never come across any articles that read something along the lines of the EU going after European companies?"
Probably because you're an idiot:
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1781
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1855
http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/1011&format=HTML&aged=0&language=EN&guiLanguage=en
glennh @ Jan 8th 2008 3:37PM
or, to put it another way, most US media wouldn't carry these stories; they only carry this one because it's Intel.
Blake Bowen @ Jan 8th 2008 3:47PM
let me get this straight. They're going to take money from Intel, because intel broke the law that says they're not allowed to not make money?
Ian @ Jan 8th 2008 3:49PM
Perhaps Intel should consider closing it's factories in the EU since are probably the least profitable to Intel worldwide. Intel does more to help the EU economy than the EU would ever admit.
shanoboy @ Jan 8th 2008 4:28PM
Why don't we ever hear about the EU going after Apple for it's monopolistic practices with Itunes and Apple not licensing their Fairplay DRM?
I remember France going after them but then they backed off. Probably cause Apple called their bluff and threatened to pull out of the country.
shanoboy @ Jan 8th 2008 5:02PM
Oops, I guess they do go after Apple. Haha
http://www.engadget.com/2008/01/08/apple-and-eu-set-to-resolve-anti-competitive-itunes-pricing-scuf/
Technophile @ Jan 8th 2008 5:09PM
Man, can't the friggin EU take a break from their extortionistic tactics? They have been hammering away at American companies for crap-assed excuses for the past 5 years now. Hey, I'm Italian, but the EU will never be another USA, even if they think they can level the playing field by extorting money out of American companies. Sure the EU mentality is no copyright on intellectual goods and yada yada, but that's because they're running in second place and it only helps them.
C'mon. Time to slap their hands for getting too greedy.
Spectre @ Jan 16th 2008 10:50AM
Grrr. It never ends. Intel and M$ should GTFO of the EU, and let them crumble without tech. Let them ALL learn to use linux with AMD Servers running their internet... lol. Hell, maybe intel should go ahead, kill off AMD, and then when they are sued, not pay the fine and leave the EU in the 1960's.
The EU and NAFTA are terrible things indeed...