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Intel in Antitrust Trouble in Japan

vincecate writes "The Japan Fair Trade Commission has ruled that Intel violated antitrust laws in Japan. Giving customers discounts based on the volume of your products they purchased is good business. However, Intel was adjusting customer discounts based on the volume of competing products they purchased, which is not legal. After the ruling, AMD responded saying, "We encourage governments around the globe to ensure that their markets are not being harmed as well". While Intel responded saying, "Intel continues to believe its business practices are both fair and lawful."

3 of 203 comments (clear)

  1. Standard PR response by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    While Intel responded saying, "Intel continues to believe its business practices are both fair and lawful."

    That's how PR hacks are taught to respond. When, for example, your CEO is stealing money, your PRish role is to go out and with a straight face say: "The core Value of our company is Honesty. We will introduce a Business Codex to emphasize our commitment."

  2. Re:Give me a rational reason why this is a problem by dhbiker · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I think you missed the point slightly, it goes something like this:

    Intel: "if you buy 1 chip it costs $500"
    Intel: "But if you buy 10 it costs $450 per chip"
    Intel: "If company X wants to buy 10 then it will cost them $480 per chip because we found out they bought an athlon chip last week"

    THAT is not on!!

  3. Re:So carrots are legal, sticks are not by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Oh regarding Intel's comment that it "... continues to believe its business practices are both fair and lawful.". It might just be legal in some countries but how is it fair to use your dominant position to prevent other companies from being able to compete with you?

    Statements like this are not meant to be factual. They are meant to influence opinions. "continues to believe" is a phrase that should warn you that a politician or a company is lying to you. Always replace it with "persists in claiming".