LONDON (ShareCast) - The world's biggest computer chip maker, Intel (NASDAQ: INTC - news) , stands accused of making "illegal threats"
to dominate the microchip market.
New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo says the US tech giant used "bribery and coercion" to ensure computer companies bought its chips instead of rival products.
It's claimed the company paid billions of dollars to the PC firms and got heavy with those who did too much business with other chip makers.
In May, Intel was fined a record $1.5bn by European competition authorities amid similar allegations, although it's currently appealing against that charge.
"Rather than compete fairly, Intel used bribery and coercion to maintain a stranglehold on the market. Intel's actions not only unfairly restricted potential competitors, but also hurt average consumers who were robbed of better products and lower prices," Cuomo said Wednesday.
Intel denies the accusations, calling the decision to file the suit against it, which follows a two-year investigation, "just plain wrong".
"Neither consumers, who have consistently benefited from lower prices and increased innovation, nor justice, are being served by the decision to file a case now," it said.
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