16-Year Battle Ends: Intel Loses Appeal, Must Pay €237 Million EU Fine

In a case spanning sixteen years, Intel has again suffered a setback as a European court upheld the European Commission’s finding of wrongdoing and reduced the fine from €376 million to €237 million, according to Reuters. The ruling centres on “naked restrictions” alleged to have occurred between 2002 and 2006, when Intel reportedly made payments to HP, Acer and Lenovo with the aim of suppressing competition and limiting AMD’s market presence.

The origins of the dispute go back to 2009, when the EU accused Intel of antitrust violations on two fronts: illicit hidden rebates to push competitors out of the PC processor market, and payments to manufacturers to delay or halt devices powered by AMD processors. The latest decision confirms the second alleged conduct while altering the monetary penalty, and it leaves both the EU Commission and Intel with the right to appeal aspects of the ruling to the bloc’s highest court under EU legal procedure.