Finance
Intel loses challenge against EU antitrust ruling but wins reduced fine
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 10, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
Company
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on December 10, 2025
2 min readLast updated: January 20, 2026
Intel's EU antitrust fine was reduced by a third, highlighting ongoing competition law challenges.
By Foo Yun Chee
BRUSSELS, Dec 10 (Reuters) - U.S. chipmaker Intel lost its challenge against a 376 million euros ($438 million) EU antitrust fine imposed two years ago for thwarting rivals but gained some solace as Europe's second-highest court slashed the penalty by a third on Wednesday.
The European Commission, which acts as the EU competition enforcer, handed out the fine in 2023 after the tribunal threw out its earlier penalty of 1.06 billion euros imposed in 2009 for blocking Advanced Micro Devices.
The 376 million euro fine concerned payments made by Intel to HP, Acer and Lenovo to halt or delay rival products between November 2002 and December 2006.
Such payments are known as naked restrictions and are generally frowned on by regulators.
"The General Court upholds the Commission's 2023 decision against Intel but reduces the fine by approximately 140 million euros," the Luxembourg-based tribunal said.
Judges said a 237 million euro fine is a more appropriate reflection of the gravity and duration of the infringement at issue.
They pointed to the relatively limited number of computers affected by Intel's restrictions and the 12-month gap separating some of those anti-competitive practices.
The Commission and Intel can appeal to the EU Court of Justice, Europe's highest, on points of law.
The case is T-1129/23 Intel Corporation v Commission.
($1 = 0.8593 euros)
(Reporting by Foo Yun CheeEditing by Louise Rasmussen and Frances Kerry)
Antitrust refers to laws and regulations that promote competition and prevent monopolistic practices in the marketplace, ensuring fair competition among businesses.
A fine is a monetary penalty imposed by a court or regulatory authority as punishment for violating laws or regulations.
The European Commission is the executive branch of the European Union responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, and upholding EU treaties.
A penalty reduction occurs when a court or regulatory body decreases the severity of a punishment, often based on mitigating circumstances or appeals.
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