AMD Confirms Graphics Antitrust Probe Over

AMD has confirmed that an antitrust investigation into ATI business practices has been closed with no action taken.

Chip maker AMD has confirmed that the U.S. Department of Justice has closed the antitrust investigation into ATI’s graphics business, and that no action will be taken against AMD or its ATI business unit. The Justice Department launched the investigation in late 2006, issuing subpoenas for both ATI and Nvidia in an investigation into antitrust violations in the graphics market.

No charges were levied against either Nvidia or ATI, but the investigation reportedly focused on charges of price-fixing, specifically that ATI and Nvidia colluded to artificially set the prices for graphics processors and technology. During the course of the investigation, industry reports also had the Department of Justice examining the marketing practices of both companies.

AMD completed its acquisition of AT in October 2006, only a few month before the DOJ issued its subpoenas in the investigation.