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AMD Flies the European Flag After Intel Fine

By - Source: Tom's Hardware US

AMD is flying the flag for Europe on its website this week.

Most of last week's news discussing Intel or AMD, mentioned, at least in passing, Intel’s record breaking fine from the EU and it seems AMD is determined to keep on people's radars the fact that Intel got burned.

While most seem to think the flag and the corresponding message that reads, “European Commission finds Intel guilty of breaking antitrust laws, harming consumers,” is AMD’s attempt to rub salt in the wound and do a little gloating, we’re inclined to think differently.

For years, the company complained that Intel was attempting to drive it out of the market and last week, those claims were recognized and confirmed by the European Commission. AMD posting the news on its site is what we’d expect from any company. We spoke to AMD's social media strategist, Chris James (via twitter because that's where a social media strategist hangs out these days) and he said he hopes that the flag isn't widely being perceived in a negative light.

"I hope it's not widely being perceived that way," James tweeted. "But it's an important decision after a 9 year fight. EU consumers rejoice!"

That said, there’s probably tons of you who think differently and we want to know if you think the picture above is childish, or if you think it’s a natural state of progression for a ruling like this: one team gets a smack on the wrist and the opposition does its best to spread the word.

There are 73 Comments. B
Top Comments
  • 21 Ð
    ravewulf , May 19, 2009 12:25 AM
    I don't mind it (the flag on the website). A little amusing, sure, but not much more than that. It is nice to see the win for fair competition though
  • 17 Ð
    JMcEntegart , May 19, 2009 12:28 AM
    DXrickWell, if Intel broke EU laws, they should pay. But why does the EC get the money? Shouldn't AMD get it?This is like class action suits in the US, where the lawyers run off with the money.


    The EU is representing the millions of European customers who were affected by Intel's actions. This is not really about Intel vs AMD, although that is a small part of it. The EU issued this fine because they felt Intel's actions harmed consumers.

    The European Commission does not exist to fight on the behalf of AMD. If AMD feels Intel's actions were anticompetitive (which it clearly does) it needs to address that issue with its own lawsuit.

    The money from Intel goes to the EU's central budget, which reduces the contributions that Member States pay to the EU. In other words, that money goes to the countries who were affected by Intel's actions.
  • 15 Ð
    DXRick , May 19, 2009 12:08 AM
    Well, if Intel broke EU laws, they should pay. But why does the EC get the money? Shouldn't AMD get it?

    This is like class action suits in the US, where the lawyers run off with the money.
Other Comments
  • 15 Ð
    DXRick , May 19, 2009 12:08 AM
    Well, if Intel broke EU laws, they should pay. But why does the EC get the money? Shouldn't AMD get it?

    This is like class action suits in the US, where the lawyers run off with the money.
  • -3 Ð
    tenor77 , May 19, 2009 12:15 AM
    AMD was wronged, but I don't think shows much class. I've been running AMD chipsets on all my builds but Intel's taking their licks, I don't think trying to rub salt in the wound is the right approach.
  • 11 Ð
    LATTEH , May 19, 2009 12:24 AM
    i think its funny
  • 21 Ð
    ravewulf , May 19, 2009 12:25 AM
    I don't mind it (the flag on the website). A little amusing, sure, but not much more than that. It is nice to see the win for fair competition though
  • -2 Ð
    jacobdrj , May 19, 2009 12:26 AM
    I just happened to go to the AMD website the day the verdict was in. I couldn't believe that they actually were gloating over this in this way while I was trying to download drivers.
    I thought it was hilarious and sad at the same time.
    They should spend more time and money advertising and less hoping for verdicts from governments.
  • 17 Ð
    JMcEntegart , May 19, 2009 12:28 AM
    DXrickWell, if Intel broke EU laws, they should pay. But why does the EC get the money? Shouldn't AMD get it?This is like class action suits in the US, where the lawyers run off with the money.


    The EU is representing the millions of European customers who were affected by Intel's actions. This is not really about Intel vs AMD, although that is a small part of it. The EU issued this fine because they felt Intel's actions harmed consumers.

    The European Commission does not exist to fight on the behalf of AMD. If AMD feels Intel's actions were anticompetitive (which it clearly does) it needs to address that issue with its own lawsuit.

    The money from Intel goes to the EU's central budget, which reduces the contributions that Member States pay to the EU. In other words, that money goes to the countries who were affected by Intel's actions.
  • 2 Ð
    Gin Fushicho , May 19, 2009 12:31 AM
    Well it sure has made me laugh hard. AMD must really hate Intel. Regardless It is interesting to see the two companys turn into children with one having stolen from the cookie jar and the other tattling , then shoving it in his face. xD It's like saying "HAHA! Intel got grounded!"
  • 0 Ð
    anonymous@guest , May 19, 2009 12:31 AM
    DXrick; It's like so many things that people get fined for. If your employer doesn't follow proper regulations and violates your rights, he gets fined and you get nothing. If AMD wants money, though, I don't see why they can't go after Intel with their own lawyers. I could be wrong, but the government decision should provide a legal precedent for Intel having been responsible for financial damages.
  • 0 Ð
    hunter315 , May 19, 2009 12:34 AM
    While im glad that intel got nailed and i do like AMD because it lets you get a good system without a ton of cash, the fact that it is in the middle of their homepage is kind of childish, they could have atleast been a bit more subtle about their gloating.
  • 5 Ð
    ricardok , May 19, 2009 12:35 AM
    Since forever I've seen this "driving out of business" talks from AMD and I think that if EU found Intel guilty you HAVE to let your customers know that you were right all along. Why not? They fought for it, they have the right to it.
  • 7 Ð
    bustapr , May 19, 2009 12:36 AM
    +1^ The EU is representing the people of europe that got ripped off and robbed by intel. The money goes directly to the economy which is then for the people of europe.
  • -8 Ð
    bustapr , May 19, 2009 12:37 AM
    Now the real question: Will this affect larabee and six-core developement?
  • 3 Ð
    rawsteel , May 19, 2009 12:38 AM
    Hm, defending AMD will be poor sportsmanship!?! What sportsmanship is Intel showing? braking sportsman laws?

    So if you cheat during sport is ok, but if you get cought from the judges and others aknowledge then they are not sportsmens ?!?

    Wow, a lot of reason in this bullshit I smell.

    Intel is wrong and was not playing by the rules. They must pay, and instead of defending them you must be happy because all this is in our favor the consumers.
  • 5 Ð
    erichlund , May 19, 2009 12:45 AM
    Firmly in the "who cares" camp. I do find the "sportsmanship" comments amusing. It's not sport, it's business. Business is war without guns (well, except for arms dealers). The only reason there are rules has to do with the socialist nature of the governments (United States included, anti-trust laws are not pure capitalist, they are socialist). In a pure capitalist economy, the business goal "IS" monopoly. 100% market share is the best you can do, so why shoot for less. Well, because there are laws... :-)
  • -7 Ð
    ta152h , May 19, 2009 12:50 AM
    This is pathetic by AMD, and quite frankly disgusts me. I was a big AMD fan when Jerry Sanders was running the company, but since Hector Ruiz took over, the company has had no class, and no direction. I see his leaving has not changed anything.

    Big companies remain above petty pot-shotting. AMD should have been big, and said something like "it's unfortunate Intel had to pay this type of fine, but we felt it was necessary for our future to have a level competitive landscape". Or, "Intel is a fine competitor, and has added much value and innovation to the computer world. We feel like this should be the basis for their sales, and is something we feel we can match them in. We are happy these issues are behind us so the market can make decisions on the merits of our products alone." This is just pathetic, and makes me much less likely to buy AMD processors. It's so small time. Do you think Intel would have done the same? They never gloated when they crushed AMD with their superior products, and that is how big companies act. IBM was the same way, they never insulted anyone, or took petty pride in their undoings, at least publicly.

    It's low class, from a company that has become low class. It is just not how businesses should act. Everyone knows this. Why didn't AMD???

    It's particularly pathetic because they have such inferior products to Intel. It's coming from a position of weakness, not strength, and they just come off as a squeaking mouse.
  • -1 Ð
    tenor77 , May 19, 2009 12:51 AM
    erichlundFirmly in the "who cares" camp. I do find the "sportsmanship" comments amusing. It's not sport, it's business. Business is war without guns (well, except for arms dealers). The only reason there are rules has to do with the socialist nature of the governments (United States included, anti-trust laws are not pure capitalist, they are socialist). In a pure capitalist economy, the business goal "IS" monopoly. 100% market share is the best you can do, so why shoot for less. Well, because there are laws... :-)


    Business is war but it's as much about PR as is it anything else. This is the equivilent to AMD teabagging Intel after a particularly bad beat down. As another poster said it's funny and sad all at the same time.
  • 0 Ð
    chripuck , May 19, 2009 12:55 AM
    rawsteelHm, defending AMD will be poor sportsmanship!?! What sportsmanship is Intel showing? braking sportsman laws?So if you cheat during sport is ok, but if you get cought from the judges and others aknowledge then they are not sportsmens ?!?Wow, a lot of reason in this bullshit I smell.Intel is wrong and was not playing by the rules. They must pay, and instead of defending them you must be happy because all this is in our favor the consumers.


    Maybe a better word would be "lack of class." It doesn't matter if you're right, you don't rub your opponents nose in it. Bad karma man, and it'll bite them in the rear one day.
  • -6 Ð
    SAL-e , May 19, 2009 1:12 AM
    I think that Intel and AMD should see the bigger picture here. If Microsoft and Linux can work together I am sure that Intel and AMD can too.

    Jim Zemlin: Strange Bedfellows: The Linux Foundation and Microsoft
    from Linux Foundation Weblogs


    ps. The same trend is observed in EU. Looks like we are going to see much more government, judges and politicians involved in tech world.
  • 1 Ð
    scook9 , May 19, 2009 1:21 AM
    AMD didn't win anything, they are not getting paid anything. They are actually a completely seperate third party in this lawsuit. Intel earned this fine, and the bad publicity it has produced for them. Not to say that this will not help AMD, but it isn't selling their chips, just giving them a chance to sell them, the consumers will still decide who is more popular.

    I am not a fanboy in anyway, never have been, and probably never will run AMD, Intel is just faster, even if a little more expensive.
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