AMD commenta
la maxi multa che la Commissione Europea ha
dato a INTEL
La
Commissione Europea si è oggi espressa in
favore di AMD accusando INTEL di abuso di
posizione dominante nel mercato dei
microprocessori x86, enfatizzando il fatto
che INTEL ha arrecato un danno a milioni di
consumatori europei escludendo,
deliberatamente e per diversi anni, i
concorrenti dal mercato dei processori. Una
così grave e prolungata violazione delle
norme antitrust, ha sottolineato la
Commissione, non può essere tollerata.
Milano,
13/05/2009 - SUNNYVALE, Calif. — The
European Commission today found Intel guilty
of abusing its dominant position in the
global x86 microprocessor market, saying
that “Intel has harmed millions of European
consumers by deliberately acting to keep
competitors out of the market for computer
chips for many years. Such a serious and
sustained violation of the EU’s antitrust
rules cannot be tolerated.” The Commission
also stated that “there is evidence that
Intel had sought to conceal the conditions
associated with its payments.” The EC
decision requires Intel to change its
business practices immediately and fines
Intel a record EUR 1.06 billion (US $1.45
billion).
“Today’s ruling is an important step toward
establishing a truly competitive market,”
said Dirk Meyer, AMD president and CEO. “AMD
has consistently been a technology
innovation leader and we are looking forward
to the move from a world in which Intel
ruled, to one which is ruled by customers.”
“After an exhaustive investigation, the EU
came to one conclusion – Intel broke the law
and consumers were hurt,” said Tom McCoy,
AMD executive vice president for legal
affairs. “With this ruling, the industry
will benefit from an end to Intel’s
monopoly-inflated pricing and European
consumers will enjoy greater choice, value
and innovation.”
The EC decision stated specifically that:
· “Intel gave wholly or partially hidden
rebates to computer manufacturers on
condition that they bought all, or almost
all, their x86 CPUs from Intel”.
· “Intel made payments to major retailer
Media Saturn Holding from October 2002 to
December 2007 on condition that it
exclusively sold Intel-based PCs in all
countries in which Media Saturn Holding is
active.“
· Intel “interfered directly in the
relations between computer manufacturers and
AMD. Intel awarded computer manufacturers
payments - unrelated to any particular
purchases from Intel - on condition that
these computer manufacturers postponed or
cancelled the launch of specific AMD-based
products.”
Intel has so far failed to convince any
antitrust enforcement agency that its
business practices are lawful and
pro-consumer.
In 2008, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC)
issued a 26 billion won fine (approximately
$25.4 million USD) saying that Intel’s abuse
of its dominant position included coercing
and paying customers millions of dollars on
the condition that they use only Intel chips,
delay launches of AMD products, and/or not
develop any new products with AMD chips. The
KFTC also found that, “South Korean
consumers had to buy PCs at higher prices as
domestic PC makers were forced to buy
Intel’s pricier CPU.” In addition to a fine,
the KFTC ordered Intel to stop the practice
of offering payments to PC makers
conditioned upon them not doing business
with AMD. Intel is in the process of
appealing the ruling.
In 2005, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC)
ruled that Intel had violated the country’s
anti-monopoly laws by illegally forcing full
or partial exclusivity with five Japanese PC
makers. Intel did not appeal the ruling.
In the United States, the U.S. Federal Trade
Commission (FTC) and New York Attorney
General’s office are investigating Intel for
abuse of its monopoly position. In 2005, AMD
filed private litigation in the US District
Court of Delaware, which is scheduled for
trial in spring 2010.
