EU accuses Intel of abusing position

Formal anti-trust charges have been filed against CPU manufacturer Intel by the European Commission after an investigation lasting years found grounds to allege that the chipmaker had used illegal tactics against its rival AMD.

"I can confirm the statement of objections has been sent," said Ton Van Lierop, a spokesman for the European Commission. He also confirmed that the charges had been laid out in the statement of objections.

"This is a moment of truth for the entire IT industry," commented the president of AMD EMEA, Giuliano Meroni. "The European Commission is serious about ending Intel’s abuse of its dominant position in the global microprocessor market."

"We are confident that this Statement of Objections will be a catalyst in opening the global microprocessor markets for the benefit of consumers and PC companies alike," added Meroni.

Intel is unlikely to want to see its rival go out of business: especially with the likelihood that these investigations would become all the more common, due partly down to the risk that Intel would become a monopoly in the consumer CPU market.

AMD has said it will make a further statement on the Commission’s decision later today.