The European Commission's antitrust case against Intel suffers a major setback as a court rules in favor of the tech giant.
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| Intel secures a major victory in its battle against the EU, as a court overturns a €1.06 billion fine. Image Courtesy: Intel |
Luxembourg – October 24, 2024:
In a significant legal victory, Intel has successfully overturned a €1.06 billion ($1.1 billion) fine imposed by the European Commission in 2009. The General Court of the European Union ruled that the Commission had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its allegations of anticompetitive behavior.
The original fine was based on accusations that Intel had used illegal rebates to squeeze rivals out of the CPU market and had paid manufacturers to delay or cease the launch of products powered by AMD's CPUs. However, the court found that the Commission's analysis was incomplete and that it had failed to establish that Intel's actions had a negative impact on competition.
This latest ruling marks a major setback for the European Commission, which has been facing increasing scrutiny over its antitrust enforcement. While Intel has won this battle, the company is still facing a €376 million ($406 million) fine imposed by the Commission last year. Intel is currently appealing this fine and has also filed a lawsuit to recoup interest on the original fine.
The processor landscape has changed significantly since the original 2009 ruling, with AMD gaining market share and Intel facing increased competition. Intel has also been struggling with manufacturing challenges, which have led it to outsource a portion of its production to rival TSMC. Despite these challenges, Intel's legal team has proven successful in defending the company against antitrust allegations.
The victory against the EU is a significant boost for Intel, which has been facing a number of challenges in recent years. The company has been working to improve its manufacturing capabilities and to develop new products to compete in the rapidly evolving semiconductor market. This legal victory provides Intel with a much-needed win and demonstrates the company's commitment to defending itself against unfair allegations.