SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Intel was fined a record $1.45 billion by the European Union on Wednesday for using strong-arm sales tactics in the computer-chip market — a penalty that could turn up the pressure on U.S. regulators to also go after the company. The fine against the world’s biggest chipmaker represents a huge victory for Intel’s Silicon Valley rival, Advanced Micro Devices.
AMD has sued Intel and lobbied regulators around the world for five years, complaining that Intel was penalizing PC makers for doing business with AMD. The Federal Trade Commission is also investigating.
EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said Intel has harmed millions of European consumers by “deliberately acting to keep competitors out of the market.”
Intel said it was “mystified” about what it was supposed to change but would comply while it appeals the fine.
“This is really just a matter of competition at work, which is something I think we all want to see, versus something nefarious,” Intel chief executive Paul Otellini said in a conference call. The Associated Press
