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EU Court Cuts Intel Fine but Confirms Antitrust Breach

By  |  December 10, 2025

US semiconductor company Intel failed to overturn a European Union antitrust penalty linked to past attempts to limit competition in the computer market, according to Reuters. While the firm did not win its challenge, it did secure a reduction in the amount it must pay.

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    The case stems from actions taken more than two decades ago, when Intel made payments to major computer manufacturers including HP, Acer and Lenovo. Per Reuters, EU regulators said the goal of these arrangements was to delay or block the rollout of rival products between 2002 and 2006—conduct described as “naked restrictions,” a practice competition officials typically treat as serious misconduct.

    Europe’s General Court in Luxembourg agreed with EU regulators that Intel had violated competition rules. However, the tribunal decided the financial penalty originally imposed in 2023—376 million euros—was too high given the scope of the infraction. “The General Court upholds the Commission’s 2023 decision against Intel but reduces the fine by approximately 140 million euros,” the judges said.

    Related: EU Probes Meta Over Potential AI Restrictions on WhatsApp

    According to Reuters, the court stated that a 237 million euro fine better reflects both the length of the anti-competitive behavior and the number of affected computers. It also noted that in some cases there were significant gaps in time between the practices regulators deemed unlawful.

    The European Commission had issued the penalty after a previous 1.06 billion euro fine from 2009 was set aside on procedural grounds. This latest decision gives both Intel and the Commission the option to appeal again—exclusively on legal issues—before the EU’s highest court.

    Per Reuters, the case highlights how long-running competition disputes in the tech sector continue to shape the relationships between dominant chipmakers and the companies that rely on their products.

    Source: Reuters