It was in 2001 that the European Commission began examining the complaints against Intel. Taiwan’s Via Technologies and California’s Advanced Micro Devices alleged anti-competitive loyalty rebates and exclusive distribution agreements with PC manufacturers and retailers.
In March this year, Japan's competition watchdog issued a warning to Intel for anti-competitive practices, again in response to AMD's protest. AMD is now suing Intel in Japan for violations of Japan’s Antimonopoly Act, and in the US, alleging that Intel illegally coerced computer makers away from AMD.
The Associated Press notes that European offices of companies that make computers with Intel products were also raided yesterday, including Dell's. Further details of the searches have not been disclosed.
