Intel Hit with $400M EU Antitrust Fine for Anticompetitive Practices

Intel Corp. has been fined €376.36 million ($400 million) by European Union antitrust regulators for anticompetitive practices aimed at excluding competitors from the market for computer chips called x86 central processing units. The fine was imposed after an EU court had wiped out a one-time record €1.06 billion penalty against the chipmaker. The European Commission found that Intel had "engaged in a series of anticompetitive practices aimed at excluding competitors from the relevant market in breach of EU antitrust rules." The commission imposed the smaller fine for "a previously established abuse of dominant position in the market" after the court confirmed that Intel's naked restrictions amounted to an abuse of dominant market position under EU competition rules. Intel said in an emailed statement that it's reviewing the new decision1.

Here are the key bullet points:

• Intel Corp. has been fined €376.36 million ($400 million) by European Union antitrust regulators for anticompetitive practices aimed at excluding competitors from the market for computer chips called x86 central processing units1.
• The fine was imposed after an EU court had wiped out a one-time record €1.06 billion penalty against the chipmaker1.
• The European Commission found that Intel had "engaged in a series of anticompetitive practices aimed at excluding competitors from the relevant market in breach of EU antitrust rules"1.
• The commission imposed the smaller fine for "a previously established abuse of dominant position in the market" after the court confirmed that Intel's naked restrictions amounted to an abuse of dominant market position under EU competition rules1.
• Intel said in an emailed statement that it's reviewing the new decision1.

The fine imposed on Intel by the European Union for anticompetitive practices highlights the importance of fair competition in the technology industry and the need for companies to comply with antitrust regulations.