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- 13.01.2005
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http://www.tcmagazine.com/comments.php?shownews=26187&catid=6
€1,000,000,000 se cini nekako malo?
Business analysts predict that Intel Corp could be in line for the single largest court-ordered fine in European history, in a case regarding anti-competitive practices put together by the European Union. The EU is currently investigating the chip manufacturer for many misdemeanors, including offering discounts to manufacturers that use Intel products, as well as encouraging them not to use rival company AMD's hardware.
"I would be surprised if the fine isn't as high or higher than in the Microsoft case," States Howard Cartlidge, head of the EU competition group at law firm Olswang in London, told The New York Times. "Technology markets are where the European Commission has perceived particular problems due to dominant companies."
The legal analysis estimates that the fine could in fact far exceed €1,000,000,000 - double the €500,000,000 fine heading Microsoft's way. This follows a guilty verdict that has already slapped Intel in Japan and Korea and is a joint effort between EU and US Federal Trade Commission investigators.
Regardless of previous convictions, Intel still insists that it has done nothing wrong and is confident of being proved innocent. "Overall, Intel's conduct is lawful, pro-competitive and beneficial to consumers," said Intel spokesman Robert Manetta.
Of course, Intel's major competitor begs to differ. Sources within the company cite that Intel have conducted anti-competitive practices to maintain a dominant 80/20 split in market share that has not changed in years, despite modifications in technology. The source (speaking with the New York Times) points out that when Intel misjudged the market with Itanium, and AMD shot through Xeon, relative market shares barely budged. AMD contends that Intel uses subsidies to make sure manufacturers use its chips and ignore the competition.
Interestingly, Hewlett-Packard director Tom Perkins came out with some interesting comments during the HP spying scandal, saying that "Intel might be kicking the cr** out of us," - which no doubt AMD takes to relate to HP's decision to use more AMD processors.
€1,000,000,000 se cini nekako malo?