Intel offices raided in Japan on bad biz concerns

AMD blockade

By Ashlee Vance in Sydney • Get more from this author

Posted in Business, 8th April 2004 03:27 GMT

Free whitepaper – Out-of-box comparison between Dell, HP, and IBM blade servers

Intel's Japan offices have been raided by the country's Fair Trade Commission (FTC) as part of an investigation into whether or not Intel engaged in unfair business practices, El Reg has confirmed.

Barbara Grimes, an Intel spokeswoman confirmed that an investigation is underway. Multiple Intel offices in Japan were raided this morning by the FTC, she said. The FTC is indeed looking into alleged anti-monopoly violations. Most notably the FTC appears concerned about Intel's methods in dealing with PC OEMs.

"Intel is suspected of asking personal computer makers to not use other rivals' CPUs," Masaru Matsuo, the FTC's director told CBS MarketWatch.

Other reports out of Japan claim the FTC is concerned that Intel threatened to stop processor shipments to certain PC makers if they picked rival chips - presumably those from Advanced Micro Devices.

A press conference is currently being held in which the FTC is announcing the investigation. No information about the conference was available on the FTC's English website.

Microsoft faced an FTC investigation in February over the licensing terms for Windows XP and CE. ®