Intel To Turn Over International Evidence

A judge has ruled Intel must disclose information and evidence about its international business conduct to rival AMD as part of an ongoing suit.

As part of AMD’s long-running antitrust battle with rival chipmaker Intel, Federal District Judge Joseph Farnan has ordered Intel to product discovery evidence related to Intel’s business practices outside the UNited States. Earlier in December, the Special Master assigned to the case, Vincent Poppiti, ruled that Intel should turn over international discovery evidence, agreeing with AMD’s assertion the chip market was global in nature and Intel’s business conduct in that case spanned the globe.

AMD’s complaint against Intel centers on what the company describes as Intel’s exclusionary and monopolistic conduct, attempting to lock AMD out of particular markets and manufacturers. AMD filed suit against Intel in June 2005 (PDF), accusing the company of violating provisions of the Sherman Antitrust Act, Clayton Act, and California Business and Professions Code, and illegally engaged in anticompetitive behavior and market manipulation to maintain their monopoly power. AMD’s position has been bolstered by the Japanese Fair Trade Commission, which recommended sanctions against Intel. Intel is also the subject of antitrust scrutiny in Europe.

“Intel’s acquiescence to the Special Master’s findings is a big win for AMD,” said Thomas M. McCoy, AMD’s executive VP for legal affairs and chief administrative officer. “This case remains firmly focused on the worldwide misbehavior of a global monopolist. This ruling also removes any basis for Intel or its foreign customers to withhold evidence of Intel’s exclusion, regardless of where it occurred. We will proceed vigorously to prove that Intel abuses its global monopoly power by limiting or excluding competition, which ultimately hurts consumers worldwide.”