EU reveals 'smoking gun' e-mails from Intel antitrust probe
The European Commission released e-mail exchanges between Intel and computer manufacturers that its antitrust officials describe as "smoking gun" evidence from the probe that resulted in a $1.45 billion fine against the chip maker.
A nonconfidential version of the May ruling was made public Monday, less than a week after Intel's formal appeal of the decision was released by the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg. In its appeal, the company accused Europe's top antitrust authority of erring in law, conducting sloppy analysis and denying it the right to a fair defense.
"Late last week Lenovo cut a lucrative deal with Intel. As a result of this, we will not be introducing [Advanced Micro Devices]-based products in 2007 for our Notebook products," said a Lenovo executive in a December 2006 internal e-mail that the commission released.
