The U.S. Federal Trade Commission will announce an antitrust settlement Wednesday in its investigation of chip-maker Intel, the agency said.
The FTC will detail an order settling charges that Intel used anticompetitive tactics to stifle innovation and harm consumers in the market for computer microprocessors, graphics processors and chipsets, the agency said. A press conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. ET.
An FTC complaint, filed in December 2009, charged Intel with waging a systematic campaign to shut out rivals’ competing microchips by cutting off their access to the marketplace. Intel used threats and rewards to coerce computer makers including IBM, Dell and Hewlett-Packard into using fewer chips from rivals Advanced Micro Devices and Via Technologies, the FTC charged.
Intel has been under fire from other government bodies and rivals on antitrust grounds. Among various cases Intel was involved in last year, the European Commission last year fined Intel €1.06 billion (US$1.45 billion), and the company settled with Advanced Micro Devices for US$1.25 billion.
Grant Gross covers technology and telecom policy in the U.S. government for The IDG News Service. Follow Grant on Twitter at GrantusG. Grant's e-mail address is grant_gross@idg.com.