According to the Competition Directorate of the EC, which
recommended the recent fine on Intel for alleged anti-trust
infringements, the publication of the EC's
decision in the case is being held up by a number of people
including Intel.
"The Commission looks forward to publishing the Decision in due
course", the Competition Directorate told Electronics
Weekly, "at present however, this is not possible due to a
number of outstanding confidentiality claims by Intel and a number
of third parties."
Following the fine, the Wall Street Journal said it had
seen an
unpublished report from the EU
Ombudsman, Professor Nikiforos Diamandouros,
saying that the EC's decision to fine Intel should have included an
account of an interview which the EC conducted with a Dell
executive.
See also:
Electronics Weekly's
Focus on Intel
In 542 pages of evidence, the view of one executive is unlikely
to have a major effect on the decision. The Competition Directorate
said: "The Commission would like to stress that its findings in the
Decision (IP/09/745), including those
relating to Dell, are based on a broad range of contemporaneous
evidence as well as company statements, and that the Commission
findings will be subject to a full review by the Court of First
Instance."
See also: Mannerisms -
Psion V Is The Best Netbook Format
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In the statement referenced above, the EC said: 'The Commission
obtained proof of the existence of many of the conditions found to
be illegal in the antitrust decision even though they were not made
explicit in Intel's contracts. Such proof is based on a broad range
of contemporaneous evidence such as e-mails obtained inter alia
from unannounced on-site inspections, in responses to formal
requests for information and in a number of formal statements made
to the Commission by the other companies concerned.'
Asked if the Wall Street Journal had accurately
reported Prod Diamandouros' report, and whether the Professor's
report would be published any time soon, the Competition
Directorate replied: "For details about any publication of any
documents by the Ombudsman, you have to ask the Ombudsman's office
directly."
Phoning up the Ombudsman's office directly, produced the
response: "The Ombudsman has no comment whatsoever."