Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/03/18/intel_breaching_spirit_of_ftc/

Intel breaching spirit of FTC deal already?

Depends if you reckon the FTC Order is technical info it's impeding dissemination of...

By Graham Lea

Posted in On-Prem, 18th March 1999 15:25 GMT

Intel VP Pat Gelsinger was asked at his CeBIT presentation this morning about the FTC deal. He said he was happy that it was settled, and he didn't "believe Intel would change its behaviour in the market." But perhaps just a little bit of change in behaviour might be advisable, under the circumstances. The Register reported yesterday that Intel must "take no steps to impede, alter, suspend, or withhold advance technical information" for reasons related to an intellectual property dispute, but already Intel is ignoring the spirit of the agreement it would appear. We recall a Mr. Bill Gates of Microsoft making claims similar to those Gunslinger is making now, after the 1994 agreement to a consent decree, and look at what happened. Although the Intel Order is not yet fully in force, it will require Intel to display the text of the Order on its developer.intel.com page, but this morning only an Intel PR puff about the 8 March agreement was found. Diligent search down four levels down www.intel.com does reveal a PDF version of the Order. The Order also says that officers and directors must be given a copy of the Order within ten days of appointment. It would perhaps be a good idea for Intel to tell its VPs about this if it does not wish to follow Microsoft along the path to doom. ®