Maxi-multa Intel, la soddisfazione di AMD in un comunicato stampa

La grande soddisfazione di AMD traspare dal comunicato stampa appena giunto in redazione, che riportiamo integralmente.

La Commissione Europea si è oggi espressa in favore di AMD accusando Intel di abuso di posizione dominante nel mercato dei microprocessori x86, enfatizzando il fatto che Intel ha arrecato un danno a milioni di consumatori europei escludendo, deliberatamente e per diversi anni, i concorrenti dal mercato dei processori. Una così grave e prolungata violazione delle norme antitrust, ha sottolineato la Commissione, non può essere tollerata. La Commissione ha inoltre affermato che vi è la prova che Intel ha cercato di nascondere le condizioni associate ai suoi pagamenti ed ha quindi ordinato all’azienda americana di interrompere immediatamente tali pratiche, punendola con una multa record da 1,06 miliardi di Euro. Intel ha anche cercato di convincere che le sue pratiche sono assolutamente lecite e a vantaggio dei consumatori.

“La decisione di oggi rappresenta un passo importante nella creazione di un vero mercato competitivo” dichiara Dirk Meyer, AMD President and CEO. "AMD è sempre stata un leader nell’innovazione tecnologica e finalmente potremmo passare da un mondo regolato da Intel a uno regolato dai consumatori".

"Dopo un’attenta valutazione, l’Unione Europea è arrivata a una conclusione : Intel ha infranto la legge e i consumatori sono stati danneggiati” commenta Tom McCoy, AMD Eexecutive Vice President for Legal Affairs. “Grazie a questa decisione, il mercato potrà beneficiare della fine del monopolio di Intel sui prezzi e i consumatori europei avranno a disposizione una più ampia scelta, un maggiore valore e una migliore innovazione”.

Segue comunicato, più completo, in lingua inglese.

SUNNYVALE, Calif. — 13 May, 2009 — 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:

· 1 “Intel gave wholly or partially hidden rebates to computer manufacturers on condition that they bought all, or almost all, their x86 CPUs from Intel”.

· 2 “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.“

· 3 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.”

Intel has so far failed to convince any antitrust enforcement agency that its business practices are lawful and pro-consumer.

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.

Viene poi ricordato come vi siano anche altri precedenti di sentenze simili, in Korea del Sud ed in Giappone, sebbene con multe molto più basse. Dulcis in fundo, AMD ricorda che non è finita qui: sia la Federal Trade Commission statunitense che il New York Attorney General’s office stanno indagando su abusi analoghi, mentre l'esito di un'altra battaglia legale simile, avviata nella United States District Court of Delaware, è atteso per la primavera del 2010.