Markets Wired

Following a public comment period, the Federal Trade Commission has approved a modified settlement order resolving charges that Intel Corp. illegally stifled competition in the market for computer chips. The FTC Order will open the door to renewed competition and prevent Intel from suppressing competition in the future.

After considering public comments, the FTC modified the proposed order to allow Intel to manufacture and sell a chip that it had in development before the proposed order was negotiated, but that would violate that order because it does not contain a required interface. The FTC modified the order to allow Intel to ship this product until June 2013. All future generations of this chip must fully comply with all specifications of the final Order.

The Commission vote approving the final Order was 4-0-1, with Commissioner William E. Kovacic recused. The Order can be found on the FTC’s website and as a link to this press release. The FTC also authorized the staff to send letters to members of the public who commented on the proposed order, issued in August 2010. (FTC Docket No. 9341; the staff contact is Richard Feinstein, Bureau of Competition, 202-326-3658; see press release dated August 4, 2010, at http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2010/08/intel.shtm. Copies of the public comments can be found at http://www.ftc.gov/os/comments/intelcorp/index.shtm.)

Copies of the documents mentioned in this release are available from the FTC’s website at http://www.ftc.gov and from the FTC’s Consumer Response Center, Room 130, 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC 20580. Call toll-free: 1-877-FTC-HELP.

(FYI 46.2010.wpd)