RSSIntel, Dell European Offices Raided
By Ed Oswald | Published July 12, 2005, 2:32 PM
The European offices of Intel and several PC companies that deal with the American chipmaker were raided at dawn Tuesday as part of an investigation into the company's antitrust practices.
In recent months, Intel has gotten into hot water with Europe and Japan for alleged anti-competitive practices, as well as being sued by rival AMD in both Japan and the United States.
According to press reports, several European offices were raided, but it was unclear if anything was taken from the scene. A spokesperson for the European Commission said, "these inspections are carried out in the framework of an ongoing competition investigation."
While the Commission would not give specifics as to what companies were raided aside from Intel, news reports indicated that authorities had visited Dell Computer's European offices. Other computer makers and companies associated with Intel either declined to comment or did not respond to press inquiries.
Last April, the European Commission announced that it was opening up an investigation into procurement procedures by several member states of the European Union. Some call for Intel-based machines specifically to be bought by government agencies in those states. Such policies are illegal under EU statutes.
The Commission was also looking into reports that Intel threatened retaliation against smaller companies that opted to use AMD chips.
AMD had already filed suit against Intel in late June in the United States, then several days later in Japan. The company has also pressured the European Union to look into Intel's practices in Europe as well, first filing a complaint in 2000, and then renewing it in 2004.
Intel was previously subject to a raid by Japanese authorities as part of their investigation into anti-competitive practices.
As of press time, Intel had not responded to requests from BetaNews to comment on the situation. However, AMD executive vice president Thomas McCoy applauded the Commission's actions.
"Today's dawn raids should come as good news to consumers across Europe," McCoy said. "The European Commission dawn raids show that Intel cannot and should not escape the scrutiny of antitrust officials around the world – nor can Intel escape the consequences of its anti-competitive actions, which raise prices, threaten innovation and harm consumers."
Dell with Intel's help are tying to take the monopoly of computer sales in the UK putting a lot of small businesses out of business (including mine) I for one think this is wrong, I do not agree with a lot of the EU tactics but I wish them luck with this and hope they win
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|They raided an Intel/Dell office? This has got to be a joke of some kind...I wonder if they found those secret gestapo papers they had hidden!
You raid meth labs and crack houses...not an office building at the but-ass crack of dawn.
The more I hear about the EU the more I completely disagree with every decision they make.
EU: "Don't call it Windows reduced Media edition...!"
MS: "We called it Windows R insted, happy?"
EU: "Why are no OEM vendors or people buying it?"
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|BIG BROTHER IS HERE. HE CALLS HIMSELF EU.
EU SEEKS TO REGULATE TELEVISION ON THE NET...
EU raids Intel offices, other computer makers across Europe...
EU bans sale of vitamins...
More:
http://www.drudgereport.com/
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|Seriously... I'm European and I've nothing against US. We just have different law and antitrust rules... I don't want to discuss which are better. Everyone must respect law, even Intel.
Sorry for my english, but I think is better have something than nothing ;-)
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|My thoughts too...'cept of course I'm in the US
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|I think it's a good thing. I don't want Intel knowing every single thing I do in giganto-evil corporate style, and that's kinda where it's heading.
I also have to agree with you, though I'm Canadian, and I do have something against the US(although not its people).
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|Hahahahhahaha
Serves 'em right.
Intel stinks like dog poop.
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|muh doggie's poop doesn't stink, it smells like rosebuds hehehehe
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|Ahh...the day we flush roses down the toilet has arrived. :P
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|Someone should take the EU on. They think they are helping, they are just going to make things worse
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|Lets see if the US authorities follow suit.
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|Intel has lots of money in lawyers to prevent that from happening anytime soon. The US needs warrants and such.
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|Fancy Lawyers will have a tough time argueing about evedence they find, no watter where it is found. Even if they cover it up internally, the copmanys they have applied pressure or given incentives to will come out and will look even worse on them if they have covered it up. I think they have enough allready for intel to be reaching for the cheque book. It can only be good for the consumer.
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