Intel settles anti-trust charges

Charged with customizing exclusivity deals with computer companies to stifle competition and withholding benefits from others if they purchased chips elsewhere, Intel has agreed to stop both of those practices, the FTC said.

In the settlement, Intel also agreed to modify intellectual property agreements with several firms to allow competitors a chance to merge. The firm also agreed to pay software companies that want to reconfigure software to be effective with non-Intel chips, a condition that implies Intel has been creating chips that force software firms to write programs that favor Intel's processors.

"This case demonstrates that the FTC is willing to challenge anti-competitive conduct by even the most powerful companies in the fastest-moving industries," FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said.

The agreement, approved on a 4-0 vote among FTC commissioners, is subject to a 30-day public comment period, the FTC said.FTC Commissioner William Kovacic did not vote, the FTC said in a statement.

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