Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes says Intel case may be larger threat to E.U. business than Microsoft
According to a report on Forbes, the E.U. Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes, was asked to formally charge Intel on grounds of illegal business tactics. Kroes was asked by a number of European Union investigators that have been on the Intel case since 2000. At that time, AMD filed complaints about Intel that claimed Intel monopolized its business in several European regions by causing grief to system builders.
The original AMD reports claimed that Intel disallowed certain vendors to have their usual discounts if purchases of AMD products exceeded 20-percent of the vendor's overall purchase. DailyTech previously reported that Intel was in headlines for even bribing vendors not to carry AMD products. The original report by Financial Times Deutschland also noted that Intel carried out similar actions within the U.S.
Kroes is in the process of deciding whether or not to go through with a full charge on Intel. If not, the six year old case against Intel will be dropped. Until then, however, Kroes is requesting more information about Intel's activities in Europe. Kroes is proceeding cautiously, citing that the case with Intel could even be more complex than the Union's 10 year old antitrust case with Microsoft.
Early last year, Korean Fair Trade Commission raided the offices of Intel Korea. The KFTC deemed that Intel practiced unethical and illegal business practices that also involved a number of vendors. Intel representative Chuck Mulloy told reporters that Intel will fully cooperate with the investigation. "We believe the investigation is continuing. We will continue to cooperate," said Mulloy.
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