Intel Japan warning could portend antitrust problems News
Intel Japan warning could portend antitrust problems

[JURIST] In a warning that could portend further legal trouble, Japan's Fair Trade Commission [official website] said Tuesday that computer chip manufacturer Intel [corporate website] should cease practices that violate Japan's Anti-Monopoly Act [text] by pressuring Japanese companies to buy its chips. The commission based its ruling on deals Intel offered to Japanese computer makers, providing discounts if they purchased exclusively from Intel, and barring manufactures from mixing and matching chips in the same line of computers. While not imposing any fines, the ruling benefits competitors AMD [AMD press release supporting the decision] and Transmeta by making Intel liable to private lawsuits and further governmental proceedings. Intel has issued a statement denying that its practices violated worldwide anti-trust principles. The corporation has 10 days to appeal. AFP has more.