Intel Corporation has appealed the European Union’s May antitrust ruling with a claim that the administrative nature of the process violates the company’s human rights.
The recent appeal joins a growing chorus of voices which dissent to the administrative nature of EU Competition rulings. Objectors — which include Intel, Schindler Holding and Saint-Gobain Glass France SA — argue that the legal characteristics of antitrust proceedings is owed the scrutiny of the courts, rather than a legislative review that ends in a substantial fine.
Intel’s appeal comes just two months after the European Commission decision which slapped the firm with a €1.06 billion penalty for engaging in anti-competitive behavior.
The some 500 page ruling declared that Intel has abused its leadership in the microprocessor market to strong-arm its customers into remaining loyal to Intel in the hope of pushing its chief rival, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), out of the market.
EC Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes also cited consumer harm in the Commission’s ruling.
“Intel has harmed millions of European consumers by deliberately acting to keep competitors out of the market for computer chips for many years,” she said.
The decision also found Intel guilty of leveraging its significant financial capabilities to persuade customers into delaying or aborting AMD-powered plans in favor of products with Intel chips. The charges include paying at least one retailer to stock only Intel parts, and offering several secret rebates to make Intel processors the only economical choice.
Intel has not yet provided the full details surrounding its appeal, but they are certainly fighting an uphill battle with the Court of First Instance which has previously been unreceptive to corporate claims of human rights violations.
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