The European Commission has rekindled a three-year-old investigation into Intel, asking new questions about the chip producer’s business practices, the Commission said on Tuesday.
The Intel case has been dormant for years, but last month the Commission sent detailed letters of inquiry to computer makers and retailers, sources close to the situation told Reuters earlier.
The Commission confirmed the sources’ comments, saying letters had been sent out.
“It’s still at the beginning so I would caution you against rushing to conclusions about whether or not we feel we have a case against Intel,” Commission competition spokeswoman Amelia Torres told a news conference.
“It’s fair to characterize it as a new fact finding phase.”
In 2001, the Commission said it had looked into allegations Intel abused its dominant position “for Windows-capable microprocessors by engaging in abusive marketing practices.”
At that time, it also sent requests for information to makers of personal computers and retailers.
Sources said that the renewal of the probe by the Commission was prompted by the fact that the EU executive had got additional information from complainants.
A spokesman for Intel said that the company continued to cooperate fully, as it has for the past three years.
“We believe and have said many times that our business practices are both lawful and fair. We can’t comment on any specific allegations or questions from the Commission,” said spokesman Chuck Mulloy, speaking by telephone from California.
A spokesman for AMD, Intel’s smaller rival, reacted cautiously to the news. “We welcome any development that will promote competition in the European computer industry,” said Jen Drews.
The probe is being handled by the same European Commission team which investigated the Microsoft case, leading to a record 497 million euro ($615 million) fine and orders to change the firm’s business practices. Microsoft will appeal this week. (MSNBC is a Microsoft-NBC joint venture.)
The European Commission earlier this year said it was investigating the governments of France, Germany and others for favoring Intel chips in public tenders.
