Intel loses 1.06bn euro fine appeal

Intel is "very disappointed" with the decision.

Chip giant Intel has lost a challenge against a record 1.06bn (£852m; $1.44bn) European fine for anti-competitive practices.

Judges at the Luxembourg-based General Court backed a 2009 European Commission decision that Intel had blocked rival Advanced Micro Devices.

Intel said it was "very disappointed" with the decision.

The company can appeal to Court of Justice of the European Union, but only on points of law.

In 2009 the European Commission found that between 2002 and 2007, Intel gave rebates to PC makers Dell, Hewlett-Packard Co, Japan's NEC and Lenovo to favour its chips over those of Advanced Micro Devices (AMD).

The EU competition authority said Intel also paid German retail chain Media Saturn Holding to stock only computers with its chips.

The General Court judges said that the Commission had been right to impose its fine.

"The Commission demonstrated to the requisite legal standard that Intel attempted to conceal the anti-competitive nature of its practices and implemented a long term comprehensive strategy to foreclose AMD from the strategically most important sales channels," the court said.

"The General Court considers that none of the arguments raised by Intel supports the conclusion that the fine imposed is disproportionate. On the contrary, it must be considered that that fine is appropriate in the light of the facts of the case," the judges said.

Intel said it would evaluate the ruling.

"We are very disappointed with the decision," the firm said. "This is a complex case and the decision reflects that. We have begun the process of evaluating the court's judgment."