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Intel Antitrust Litigation

Date Filed: June 30, 2005

Court: U.S. District Court

Location: Delaware

Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro is the court-appointed lead counsel for the consolidated class-action suit against Intel. The class-action lawsuit claims the microprocessor giant unlawfully maintains a monopoly by engaging in a relentless, worldwide campaign to coerce customers to refrain from dealing with Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (AMD), another microprocessor manufacturer.

Specific allegations against Intel include:

• Forcing major customers into exclusive or near-exclusive deals with Intel
• Conditioning rebates, allowances, and market development funding on customers' agreements to severely limit purchases from AMD
• Establishing a system of discriminatory, retroactive, first-dollar rebates triggered by purchases at such high levels that in effect deny customers the freedom to purchase any significant volume of processors from AMD
• Threatening retaliation against customers introducing AMD computer platforms
• Establishing and enforcing quotas among key retailers effectively requiring them to stock overwhelmingly, if not exclusively, Intel-powered computers, thereby limiting consumer choice
• Forcing PC makers and technology partner to boycott AMD product launches and promotions
• Abusing its market power by forcing technical standards and products on the industry which have as their central purpose the handicapping of AMD in the marketplace

The complaint alleges that Intel's unlawful conduct has caused and will continue to cause substantial harm to competition in domestic, import, and export trade.

According to the suit, consumers ultimately foot the bill for Intel's actions in the form of inflated PC prices and the loss of freedom to purchase computer products that best fit their needs.

According to the complaint, in 2005 the Japanese government's Fair Trade Commission recognized these competitive harms and recommended that Intel be sanctioned for its exclusionary misconduct toward AMD. Intel chose not to contest the charges.

The class action includes all United States residents who purchased a microprocessor in the United States indirectly from Intel from June 29, 2001 through the present.

Click here to view the complaint.

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Recent Updates

May 26, 2006- Hagens Berman joined co-council in submitting an amended complaint which expands and better defines the class allegations. Among the other changes, the case has been moved to U.S. District Court in Delaware, where similar cases have been combined as a Multi-District Litigation case.

Currently HBSS and co-counsel is reviewing upwards of hundreds of thousands of documents as part of the discovery process, which is expected to proceed through most of 2007.

To view the first part of the amended complaint click here and for part two click here.

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April 18, 2006 - Hagens Berman Sobol Shapiro has been appointed by the court as lead counsel for the consolidated class-action suit against Intel. This consolidated suit is one of the largest cases currently pending in the United States. To learn more about this appointment, click here.

A consolidated class-action complaint will be filed by April 28, 2006.