Intel has hit back at the EU's antitrust evidence, claiming the regulator set out to find it guilty. The EC fined Intel $1.45 billion for trying to shut AMD out of the processor market by offering PC makers illegal rebates. Unsurprisingly, Intel contested the finding, prompting the EC to present excerpts of the evidence it collected during its investigation. However, according to Intel this evidence has been skewed by a biased regulator. "Intel has reluctantly concluded that the Commission initiated the investigation with a predisposed view to alter the results of competition, and consequently tended to assess the evidence with a prosecutorial bent to confirm its point of view," the company says in an extensive statement released on its site. It ignored or minimised – and indeed at times even refused to obtain – important evidence that contradicted its view of the world
"In doing so, it ignored or minimised – and indeed at times even refused to obtain – important evidence that contradicted its view of the world. The result was a consistently one-sided and result-oriented selection and interpretation of the evidence," the company claims.
Intel goes on to repeat its argument that AMD's failings are its own doing and that it cannot be held responsible.
"It is perhaps most remarkable that the Commission's decision essentially ignored the undisputable fact that microprocessor prices have declined significantly year over year, while innovation has proceeded at a stunning pace.
"The Commission also paid little heed to the fact that when AMD, the alleged victim in this case, fielded a genuinely competitive product and executed well, it achieved remarkable success, growing its sales and profits to unprecedented levels."
Intel claims it is looking forward to presenting the "complete story" to the European Court of First Instance when it hears the company's appeal
