Intel Subpoenaed for Illegal Business Practices

Intel and rival AMD have been subpoenaed by the US Federal Trade Commission.

Intel Corp and Advanced Micro Devices Inc have been subpoenaed by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission in possible anticompetitive behaviour in the microprocessor market.

The Federal Trade Commission has launched a formal investigation in a series of legal challenges facing Intel, the world's largest computer chip maker. Antitrust investigations of Intel have been launched in several countries, including the U.S., based on complaints by AMD of unfair business practices that have stalled its growth.

Intel is already fighting antitrust charges in the European Union and was fined $25.4 million this week by South Korea's antitrust regulator.

AMD alleges that Intel has maintained its dominance in microprocessors, the electronic brains of personal computers, by illegally threatening computer manufacturers with higher prices if they don't use Intel chips exclusively.

Intel has maintained that its business practices are fully legal, despite AMD's intensifying legal challenges over the past several years.

Intel has nearly 80 percent of the worldwide market share for microprocessors. AMD has roughly 20 percent and claims it has been crippled by Intel's illegal practices.