在此案件中，最初欧盟的监管机构对英特尔提出了反垄断指控，并由下级法院作出了对英特尔不利的裁决，即对英特尔处以10.6亿欧元（约11.4亿美元）的罚款。然而，英特尔对这一裁决不满，于是上诉到了欧洲的最高法院，也就是欧盟法院。Source: Wall Street See
After reexamination, the European Court of Justice rejected the EU's antitrust allegations against Intel, lifting the $1.14 billion fine imposed on Intel. Despite winning this lawsuit, there is still another related legal dispute unresolved, as the European Commission imposed a new fine of 0.37636 billion euros on Intel last year, which Intel is currently appealing.
On Thursday, the European Court of Justice, also known as the European Union Court, made a ruling favorable to $Intel (INTC.US)$ , ending the nearly 20-year legal battle between this American semiconductor manufacturer and European regulatory institutions.
In this case, the initial regulatory institutions of Europe brought antitrust charges against Intel, and a lower court made a ruling unfavorable to Intel, imposing a fine of 1.06 billion euros (approximately 1.14 billion dollars) on Intel. However, Intel was dissatisfied with this ruling and appealed to the highest court in Europe, which is the EU Court.
The European Court of Justice ruled in favor of Intel after a review. The European Highest Court stated on Thursday that they rejected all the appeals made by the European Commission. The court believed that the EU did not have enough evidence to prove that Intel provided computer manufacturers with illegal discounts, thus overturning the lower court's ruling and canceling the fine imposed on Intel.
Intel successfully countered the EU's antitrust charges against it.
Intel welcomed this decision and expressed relief, stating they can finally put this part of the case behind. The EU Commission, headquartered in Brussels, stated that they will "carefully analyze this judgment."
Despite winning this case, Intel still faces other ongoing legal issues. Last year, the European Commission imposed a new fine of 0.37636 billion euros on Intel, and this case is still in progress. This case involves Intel paying manufacturers to stop releasing products with competitor chips, a practice described as 'naked restrictions' in the EU's antitrust law. In addition to defending against this relatively small fine, Intel plans to sue the EU Commission to demand payment of interest on the original fine.
The recent Supreme Court ruling is very similar to the ruling two years ago, when it was also believed that the EU's accusations against Intel lacked basis. At that time, the European Commission accused Intel of using its dominant position in the market to suppress its competitors. $Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.US)$ It was the first major loss for the European Commission in antitrust cases in over 20 years. The Commission expressed dissatisfaction with that ruling and believed that there were many errors in the judgment of the EU General Court.
In the antitrust investigation before the ruling in 2009, the European Commission accused intel of giving rebates to computer companies from 2002 to 2005, with the condition that these companies buy at least 95% of their chips from intel. For the remaining 5% of the chips, they were usually supplied by AMD, but intel imposed certain restrictions making it difficult for AMD to compete with intel in the market.
After years of competition with rivals, intel found its technological advantage declining. Intel encountered some difficulties in Europe, affecting their semiconductor plans there. This includes intel revealing in September of this year that they will delay the construction of a factory planned in Germany, which was originally designated to receive 1 billion euros in state subsidies.
Additionally, the case number of this case is: C-240/22 P Commission v. Intel Corporation.
Editor / jayden
