A relatively successful period for AMD, a few years ago, was largely based on the speedier adoption of 64-bit computing and dual-core processing, for which Intel was largely, at first, a critical bystander.
Since then fortunes have reversed strongly, with delays to the native quad-core 'Barcelona' processor dogging AMD while Intel raced ahead with the Core 2 Duo, increasing revenues and mounting market share. In the background, however, for those keeping an eye on this area, there was always a subterranean issue waiting to take effect: antitrust proceedings.
These have resurfaced with full force, in Korea, in this instance. Intel has now been fined $25.4 million (26 billion Korean won) by the Korean Fair Trade Commission (KFTC), over antitrust issues. Even more recently, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has now launched an official probe into the leading chip maker.
Specifically, Intel is accused of making payments to Korean PC makers conditional on not purchasing competing CPUs from AMD.
The wider significance of this ruling is that authorities in Japan, EC and the US have still declare on similar investigations into Intel-versus-AMD antitrust issues.
In Europe, for example, the EC has already charged Intel with three anti-trust offences.
The similarities between Intel and Microsoft are striking to this observer, and the prospect of ongoing litigation must be a major concern to Intel execs in Santa Clara.
You can read AMD's position on its global antitrust case here. Meanwhile, Intel responds to the even more recent developments from the US Federal Trade Commission.
The wider significance of this ruling is that authorities in Japan, EC and the US have still declare on similar investigations into Intel-versus-AMD antitrust issues.
In Europe, for example, the EC has already charged Intel with three anti-trust offences.
The similarities between Intel and Microsoft are striking to this observer, and the prospect of ongoing litigation must be a major concern to Intel execs in Santa Clara.
You can read AMD's position on its global antitrust case here. Meanwhile, Intel responds to the even more recent developments from the US Federal Trade Commission.
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