European Voice.com reports that an ombudsman report criticized the European Commission for “maladministration” in its recent massive fine against Intel for anti-competitive behavior. Apparently, the Commission failed to preserve an interview in which a representative of Dell claimed they used Intel chips because AMD’s chips were of poor quality.
The report by the ombudsman, P. Nikiforos Diamandouros, has yet to be submitted, but the Wall Street Journal wrote on 8 August that a draft it had seen criticised the EU’s officials for not keeping minutes of a meeting with an executive of the computer-maker Dell that provided “potentially exculpatory” evidence in the case.
The Dell executive told EU officials in August 2006 that the company had opted for Intel semi-conductors in its computers because those of its principal rival, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), were “very poor”.
Seems to undermine the case against Intel and supports their counter-suit.
Intel is currently seeking to overturn the fine at the European Court of First Instance. In July, it also filed a case against the Commission, alleging that it had violated its rights. Details of that suit have not been disclosed.
This case will likely go on for a long, long time.
Clik here to view.
