Intel could face EU antitrust case: report

European Union investigators believe they have enough evidence to pursue formal antitrust charges against Intel Corp., a critical step in their five-year probe of the computer-chip maker, The Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday.

Investigators for the European Commission in Brussels have prepared a written draft of charges against Intel and are gearing up to defend their conclusions before an internal "devil's advocate" panel of legal experts, the people with knowledge of the probe said.

Such panels are convened in high-profile antitrust cases to explore possible weaknesses in investigators' arguments and to offer advice, according to the report.

Intel competitor Advanced Micro Devices Inc. of the U.S. has told regulators that its bigger rival has unfairly abused its position as the world's dominant supplier of computer chips to muscle AMD out of new markets.

In July 2005, the EU searched Intel offices in Europe, seizing documents that investigators are now using to bolster their case against Intel.

Investigators have been examining a variety of Intel's practices, including giving rebates to computer makers and retailers that stock products made with Intel chips.

"Our view is that the allegations from AMD are wrong. Our business practices are both fair and lawful," said Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy.

Source: Xinhua