Europe hits Intel with record fine

Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} Computer chip maker Intel has been fined a record 1.06 billion euros ($1.45 billion) by the European Commission for anti-competitive practices, more than twice the amount of the 497 million euro fine levied on Microsoft in 2004 for abusing its dominant market position.   The Commission found that between 2002 and 2007, Intel had paid manufacturers and a retailer to favor its chips over those of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).   The investigation followed complaints by AMD in 2000, 2003 and 2006. The Commission said that Acer, Dell, HP, Lenovo and NEC had been given hidden rebates to use only Intel chips.   It also found that Media Saturn, which owns Europe's biggest consumer electronics retailer Media Markt, had been given money so that it would only sell computers containing Intel chips.   "Intel has harmed millions of European consumers by deliberately acting to keep competitors out of the market for computer chips for many years," said Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes. "Such a serious and sustained violation of the EU's antitrust rules cannot be tolerated."   Intel has said it will appeal the verdict. "Intel takes exception to this decision. We believe the decision is wrong and ignores the reality of a highly competitive microprocessor market," said Intel chief executive Paul Otellini. "There has been absolutely zero harm to consumers. Intel will appeal," he added.     *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á┬á *