E.U. Releases E-Mails to Defend Decision on Intel

“Neelie Kroes, the European Union competition commissioner,
imposed the €1.06 billion fine in May for abusing its
dominance in the computer chip market to exclude its only serious
rival, Advanced Micro Devices. Since then Intel has appealed
against the decision to a European court, accusing her
investigators of botching procedures and trampling on the
company’s rights of defense.

“In an unusual move, Ms. Kroes shot back on Monday with extracts
from e-mails and other documents obtained during the investigation,
which she said showed how Intel used unfair tactics to pressure
companies to exclude A.M.D. chips from personal computers sold in
Europe.

“In one internal presentation from 2003, Dell, a computer maker,
noted that switching any part of its supplies to A.M.D. from Dell
risked retaliation by Intel that “could be severe and
prolonged with impact to all LOBs,” or lines of
business.”

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