Microchip giant under fire in South Korea

14 Sep 2007

South Korean business regulators have issued a "statement of objections" to Intel following an investigation into whether the U.S. microchip company violated antitrust laws.

South Korea's Fair Trade Commission issued the statement last week, Intel spokesman Chuck Mulloy said Thursday, adding that Korean law barred the company from discussing the nature of the document.

Intel described the statement as "preliminary" and said it planned to respond through an official process.

"What we hope to be able to show the commission is that the microprocessor market is functioning normally, that it is fiercely competitive and that our business practices are lawful, pro-competitive and benefit consumers," Mulloy said.

South Korea began investigating Intel's marketing and rebate practices for computer processors two years ago after similar probes by Japan and the European Union.

Intel's chief competitor, Advanced Micro Devices Inc., has accused the company of using anti-competitive practices such as offering discounts to computer makers that agreed to use Intel chips instead of ones from AMD. (Reporting by Scott Hillis)

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