Thursday, May 14th 2009
AMD Comments on EC Ruling that Intel Violated EU Law, Harmed Consumers
The European Commission today found Intel guilty of abusing its dominant position in the global x86 microprocessor market, saying that "Intel has harmed millions of European consumers by deliberately acting to keep competitors out of the market for computer chips for many years. Such a serious and sustained violation of the EU's antitrust rules cannot be tolerated." The Commission also stated that "there is evidence that Intel had sought to conceal the conditions associated with its payments." The EC decision requires Intel to change its business practices immediately and fines Intel a record EUR 1.06 billion (US $1.45 billion).
"Today's ruling is an important step toward establishing a truly competitive market," said Dirk Meyer, AMD president and CEO. "AMD has consistently been a technology innovation leader and we are looking forward to the move from a world in which Intel ruled, to one which is ruled by customers."
"After an exhaustive investigation, the EU came to one conclusion - Intel broke the law and consumers were hurt," said Tom McCoy, AMD executive vice president for legal affairs. "With this ruling, the industry will benefit from an end to Intel's monopoly-inflated pricing and European consumers will enjoy greater choice, value and innovation."
The EC decision stated specifically that:
In 2008, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) issued a 26 billion won fine (approximately $25.4 million USD) saying that Intel's abuse of its dominant position included coercing and paying customers millions of dollars on the condition that they use only Intel chips, delay launches of AMD products, and/or not develop any new products with AMD chips. The KFTC also found that, "South Korean consumers had to buy PCs at higher prices as domestic PC makers were forced to buy Intel's pricier CPU." In addition to a fine, the KFTC ordered Intel to stop the practice of offering payments to PC makers conditioned upon them not doing business with AMD. Intel is in the process of appealing the ruling.
In 2005, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ruled that Intel had violated the country's anti-monopoly laws by illegally forcing full or partial exclusivity with five Japanese PC makers. Intel did not appeal the ruling.
In the United States, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and New York Attorney General's office are investigating Intel for abuse of its monopoly position. In 2005, AMD filed private litigation in the US District Court of Delaware, which is scheduled for trial in spring 2010.
Source:
AMD
"Today's ruling is an important step toward establishing a truly competitive market," said Dirk Meyer, AMD president and CEO. "AMD has consistently been a technology innovation leader and we are looking forward to the move from a world in which Intel ruled, to one which is ruled by customers."
"After an exhaustive investigation, the EU came to one conclusion - Intel broke the law and consumers were hurt," said Tom McCoy, AMD executive vice president for legal affairs. "With this ruling, the industry will benefit from an end to Intel's monopoly-inflated pricing and European consumers will enjoy greater choice, value and innovation."
The EC decision stated specifically that:
- "Intel gave wholly or partially hidden rebates to computer manufacturers on condition that they bought all, or almost all, their x86 CPUs from Intel".
- "Intel made payments to major retailer Media Saturn Holding from October 2002 to December 2007 on condition that it exclusively sold Intel-based PCs in all countries in which Media Saturn Holding is active."
- Intel "interfered directly in the relations between computer manufacturers and AMD. Intel awarded computer manufacturers payments - unrelated to any particular purchases from Intel - on condition that these computer manufacturers postponed or cancelled the launch of specific AMD-based products."
In 2008, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) issued a 26 billion won fine (approximately $25.4 million USD) saying that Intel's abuse of its dominant position included coercing and paying customers millions of dollars on the condition that they use only Intel chips, delay launches of AMD products, and/or not develop any new products with AMD chips. The KFTC also found that, "South Korean consumers had to buy PCs at higher prices as domestic PC makers were forced to buy Intel's pricier CPU." In addition to a fine, the KFTC ordered Intel to stop the practice of offering payments to PC makers conditioned upon them not doing business with AMD. Intel is in the process of appealing the ruling.
In 2005, the Japan Fair Trade Commission (JFTC) ruled that Intel had violated the country's anti-monopoly laws by illegally forcing full or partial exclusivity with five Japanese PC makers. Intel did not appeal the ruling.
In the United States, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and New York Attorney General's office are investigating Intel for abuse of its monopoly position. In 2005, AMD filed private litigation in the US District Court of Delaware, which is scheduled for trial in spring 2010.
104 Comments on AMD Comments on EC Ruling that Intel Violated EU Law, Harmed Consumers
AMD CALLS INTEL THIEVES.
''AMD's Pat Moorhead, though, believes that Intel is now permanently marked. Like an ex-convict, it now has to check in with EU authorities periodically to have its behavior monitored. And that stain may extend to its business deals in the US and elsewhere, he said: "If someone steals from his neighbor, it still makes that person a thief, even though he didn't steal from your house."
www.betanews.com/article/Intel-CEO-The-exclusivity-and-loyalty-of-OEMs-are-up-for-bids/1242246384/2
Though, they've really picked themselves up in the past few months. Wouldn't mind a phenom or two for a mid ranged system-Intels overpriced.
1. may be a64 based pcs never got sold so they didn't come in for repairs
2. Intel inside Idiots outside rule (AMD inside smarties outside so they fix it by themselves:laugh:).
Hope this ruling gives some fresh breath into AMD and they can crawl back up.
AMD hasnt produced a good product since the bought out ATI. from their on the relase sockets AM2, AM2+, AM3, made poor Phenom cpus, also they didnt keep their promises like the one how AM2+ cpus will work on all previous AM2 mobos. AMD has FAILED and i dont think they can produce poor Cpus and stay in the market forever. Fanboys wont help much.
While I do not deny that Intel were in the wrong, and that the disgraceful NetBurst architecture should have been taken out and shot far earlier (and probably would have been, if AMD had sold more chips), the fact of the matter is that funding is not AMD's biggest problem; producing mediocre CPUs is.
You may argue that's a result of decreased funding caused by Intel's dominance in the market, but throwing money at a problem rarely solves it (look at the recent bailout loans for automakers). AMD scored a home run with K8 which they were never able to capitalise on; to suggest their woes are purely the result of money, as opposed to management, problems is naive at best.
they have not failed, failed companies file bankruptcy. ATI has been flourishing pushing out NEW cards constantly pushing nvidia to drop prices and bin the hell out of that damn G92 die :laugh:
the CPU's are performing just fine for joe mainstream how many cores do you need to run powerpoint and internet exploder? most people who buy computers today would be impressed with a phenom X3. price for performance intel does not really have a competitor to those chips. the new athlon II X2 and phenom II X2 chips will fill the gap that the athlon 64's have left and there will not be a competitive Core 2 based cpu that does not have a lower priced amd chip right next to it. this is starting to spread in the US to manufacturers they aren't stupid people buy numbers for the same price of a dual core they can shove an extra core and better video into the same price point. as of right now you can walk into bestbuy and find ~20 AMD based desktops and ~35 intel based ones 10 of those intel's are apples so i wouldn't count them myself. that leaves AMD 20 to intel 25 that sounds like a close market share in desktops. bad market share my ass, inferior product my ass for the money AMD still holds to be a better buy for mainstream.
I dont know anyone with a Phenom/Phenom II system.
:cool:
Edit: www.thesycon.de/deu/latency_check.shtml
Use that program to see your systems latency and you will be able to see the difference.
Both make wonderfull CPU's. Even tho AMD is more innovativer then Intel is with their 2-cores-on-a-die-sticked-together, this fine does not hurt Intel at all. It's like 30% fine of what they made in total back then when this was going on.
Id'like to see AMD coming back with their chip with a much better price/performance schedule then Intel is right now. Something competetive with Icore 7. AMD Can do it.
I'd also like to see where AMD renders faster than Intel. Not saying it isn't true, but I haven't seen it.
an amd system is smoother because is more advanced. and that's why intel copied the amd architecture.
I'm laughing at AMD's response that Intel's permanently labeled as thieves. Everyone know's M$ is the biggest snake and money sucker and 99% of the people here love the latest offering Windows 7(all beit it is a free beta, and not $120 retail). I compare it to the I'm a Mac, I'm a bloated Hog(PC) argument from Apple, Lame.
AMD only caught up to Kentsfield/Yorkfield with the release of Phenom II, but that isn't because it's a single die. If single die mattered, Phenom I would've been faster, but it isn't.
ignorance is a blessing sometimes but most of the time is a curse.
Haven't tried Phenom II yet to comment.
PI vs PII... :laugh: Well there is no comparison! all i do is Game... and batch convert video.... I tell ya PI vs PII is a joke!!
You upgrade and than you'll know what im talking about....
Intel's I7 @ 4+ GHz to a PII under similar clocks is so freakin close when Converting and Gaming it isn't even funny.... Hmmm $ for $ id say go PII.... you wont notice a difference between the two:cool:
Only If you run benches that has been rittin for a specific not to mention chip :p