Intel to FTC: We Didn't Do Anything Wrong

Earlier today, word came out that the U.S. Federal Trade Commission has launched a suit against Intel over the company's alleged anticompetitive practices. Despite its recent settlement with AMD, Intel maintains that it competes fairly and lawfully.

Intel Corporation issued the following statement regarding the suit filed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC):

"Intel has competed fairly and lawfully. Its actions have benefitted consumers. The highly competitive microprocessor industry, of which Intel is a key part, has kept innovation robust and prices declining at a faster rate than any other industry. The FTC's case is misguided. It is based largely on claims that the FTC added at the last minute and has not investigated. In addition, it is explicitly not based on existing law but is instead intended to make new rules for regulating business conduct. These new rules would harm consumers by reducing innovation and raising prices."

Intel senior vice president and general counsel Doug Melamed added, "This case could have, and should have, been settled. Settlement talks had progressed very far but stalled when the FTC insisted on unprecedented remedies – including the restrictions on lawful price competition and enforcement of intellectual property rights set forth in the complaint -- that would make it impossible for Intel to conduct business."

"The FTC's rush to file this case will cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars to litigate issues that the FTC has not fully investigated. It is the normal practice of antitrust enforcement agencies to investigate the facts before filing suit. The Commission did not do that in this case," said Melamed.

Marcus Yam
Marcus Yam served as Tom's Hardware News Director during 2008-2014. He entered tech media in the late 90s and fondly remembers the days when an overclocked Celeron 300A and Voodoo2 SLI comprised a gaming rig with the ultimate street cred.
  • logitic
    Ok, I just fell out of my chair! I knew this was coming....


    Stay tuned for rebuttal from FTC
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  • roofus
    Intel is innocent. They just said so. Everybody can move along now.
    Reply
  • sstym
    Also:
    "Boohoo. We didn't screw AMD over when their processors were better than ours (aaah, the pre Core 2 Duo years).
    It will cost the taxpayers millions of dollars WE could have extorted from them with a new netburst-like ripoff.
    Competition is bad, the FTC sucks, the consumers' interest (and my houses in the Caribbean) are clearly better served by an Intel Monopoly."
    Reply
  • Glorian
    Intel: Ok AMD we are sorry, you can have some pie.
    AMD: Thank you.
    FTC: CAN I HAS PIE TOO?!
    Reply
  • hakesterman
    Shame on you Intel, I hope they stick it to you. You were very very very bad by giving companys like Dell, Gateway, Acer millions of dollars if they choose to only use your processers in all the high end PC's. Not only did you violate federal laws, you made it nearly impossible for consumers to get the Processor they wanted with the PC they wanted which i think a Class Action Lawsuit should also be filed. When it comes to fair competition you are as bad as bad can be, i hope they punish you very very badly.........

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  • deadlockedworld
    I think anything that helps other companies compete with intel is good for the marketplace.

    Competition breeds innovation--monopolies stagnate technological growth.
    Reply
  • maximus20895
    ^someone wants to give them a spanking..
    Reply
  • rhino13
    It's a good thing Obama can't be held accountable for his choice of FTC chairman, or his aggressive stance on anti-trust legislation, or anything else for that matter, otherwise this might reflect poorly on him.

    Intel is dead on. The FTC is trying to crate new laws with this lawsuit. But who can Intel turn to to defend them? This is what the Obama administration wants: More American companies becoming dependent upon the government.
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  • False_Dmitry_II
    Is spellcheck really that hard to use? I mean maybe it wouldn't be as important in the body of the article, but in the tagline? really?
    Reply
  • sonic-boom
    FTC is just being dumb here.
    Reply