Skip to main content

Intel Settles with FTC – Without Fines

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Technology giant Intel and the Federal Trade Commission have announced a tentative settlement to the long-running antitrust litigation against the chipmaker. Under the terms of the deal, Intel will be be barred from paying computer makers not to use chips from competitors, or from retaliating against computer makers who use non-Intel suppliers. However, Intel will be paying no fines for more than a decade of alleged wrongdoing—although, of course, Intel maintains it has not done anything wrong.

“This case demonstrates that the FTC is willing to challenge anticompetitive conduct by even the most powerful companies in the fastest-moving industries,” said FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz, in a statement. “By accepting this settlement, we open the door to competition today and address Intel’s anticompetitive conduct in a way that may not have been available in a final judgment years from now.”

Recommended Videos

The settlement applies to Intel’s CPU, graphics technologies, and bundles chipsets, and prohibits Intel from using bundled prices, special offers, or even threats to get computer makers to run with Intel gear rather than systems from competitors. Intel will also have to change its intellectual property agreements with graphics developers Nvidia, AMD, and Via Technologies so those companies are more able to enter into mergers or joint ventures, and maintain the PCI Express bus for at least six years in a way that won’t impede development of graphics technologies.

Get your weekly teardown of the tech behind PC gaming
Check your inbox!

Intel will also have to come clean that Intel’s compilers favor Intel chips and may not use all features of non-Intel chips; Intel will also be barred from deceiving computer maters about the performance of non-Intel processors and graphics systems.

Intel does not admit to any violation of law, nor does it cede that the facts alleged in the FTC’s complaint against it are true: it sees the settlement as a way to put years of antitrust litigation behind the company.

“This agreement provides a framework that will allow us to continue to compete
and to provide our customers the best possible products at the best prices,” said Intel senior VP and general counsel Doug Melamed, in a statement. “The settlement enables us to put an end to the expense and distraction of the FTC litigation.”

Intel will not be paying any fines as part of the settlement; in contrast, the European Union levied a $1.45 billion fine against Intel in May 2009 for many of the same practices, the largest antitrust fine ever issued by the European Commission. Intel continues to appeal that ruling.

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
Intel Arc B580 vs. Nvidia RTX 4060: a one-sided showdown
The back of the Intel Arc B580 graphics card.

Intel is back with one of the best graphics cards you can buy -- the Arc B580. As you can read in my Intel Arc B580 review, it's a graphics card that has no business being as powerful as it is given how inexpensive it is. And when comparing it to its main competitor, Nvidia's RTX 4060, Intel mops the floor with its rival.

I've been testing Intel's latest GPU over the last couple of weeks, and I decided to put it head-to-head with Nvidia's budget RTX 4060, which is currently the second-most-popular GPU on Steam. Given the performance I've seen, Intel's GPU deserves to start climbing up the rankings in those same charts.
Specs and pricing

Read more
It’s finally time to stop ignoring Intel GPUs
Two intel Arc graphics cards on a pink background.

Intel is taking another swing at making it among the best graphics cards with the Arc B580, which is set to launch in a matter of days. It's the first time we're seeing discrete graphics on desktop packing Intel's Battlemage architecture, and it's arriving just weeks before AMD and Nvidia are set to launch new generations.

I'm sure you've heard about Intel's first attempt with discrete GPUs, and all of the problems that ensued. Things have changed quite a bit over the past few years, though. I need to wait until the Arc B580 is here to fully put it through its paces, but based on what Intel has shared so far, it's a card you should definitely keep an eye on.
Fulfilling AMD's role

Read more
Intel announces sudden departure of CEO amid financial turmoil
Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger holding a chip.

Intel has announced that CEO Pat Gelsinger has retired. The executive, who first joined Intel in 1979 at 18 years old, is being replaced by David Zinsner and Michelle Johnston Holthaus. Holthaus and Zinsner will serve as interim co-CEOs while the board of directors works "diligently and expeditiously" to find a successor.

Gelsinger became CEO in early 2021. At the time, Intel was struggling to regain ground it had lost to AMD in the desktop market, as well as push a more ambitious manufacturing timeline to catch up with foreign chipmakers like TSMC. Under Gelsinger's leadership, the company made some big strides. Intel's 12th generation of processors marked a significant turning point in the company's desktop processors, and an aggressive foundry roadmap has pushed smaller nodes out of U.S.-based plants.

Read more