Intel's EU Fine from 2009: A Chapter Closed

Back in 2009, Intel faced a hefty fine of €1. 06 billion (around $1. 45 billion back then) from the EU for abusing its market power. The European Commission accused Intel of offering unfair discounts to computer manufacturers who used Intel's chips, a practice known as "conditional rebates. " The Commission argued that this hurt competition. However, a lower court in 2022 overturned this fine, stating that the Commission's case wasn't strong enough.

The Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) recently upheld this decision, closing the book on that specific fine. They agreed with the lower court that Intel's rebates weren't necessarily anti-competitive. But Intel wasn't off the hook completely. The same 2022 ruling found that Intel's "naked restrictions" — paying PC makers to stop using rival chips — were indeed illegal. Intel didn't challenge this part, so the EU hit them with a new fine of about $400 million last fall. This case shows how complex competition law can be. What might seem unfair at first glance can be hard to prove in court. It's a reminder that the law often needs clear evidence to make a judgment.

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