(AOF) – The European Commission has reimposed a fine of 376.36 million euros on Intel for anti-competitive practices in the chip market. In January 2022, the Court of Justice of the European Union partially annulled the decision of the European Commission imposing a fine of 1.06 billion euros on Intel. According to her, the analysis carried out by Brussels is incomplete and does not make it possible to establish to the requisite legal standard that the disputed discounts were capable or likely to have anti-competitive effects.
The technology group was accused of having abused its dominant position in the x86 processor market, between October 2002 and December 2007, by implementing a strategy intended to exclude its competitors from the market.
Intel did not appeal the part of the General Court’s 2022 judgment confirming the Commission’s conclusion on the illegality of Intel’s “naked restrictions”, which therefore became final. These consisted of certain payments made by Intel to computer manufacturers (HP, Acer and Lenovo) to stop or delay the launch of specific products containing x86 processors from competitors and to limit the sales channels available for these products.
AOF – LEARN MORE
Growing market and price tensions
According to SIA, global chip sales stood at $151.7 billion in the first quarter of 2022, an increase of 23% year-on-year. Sales increased in all major regional markets and for all product categories. As global uncertainties, including the war in Ukraine and the health crisis, weigh on supply chains, demand for semiconductors continues to significantly exceed supply. Manufacturers Samsung and TSMC have announced that they will raise their prices, in a context where players in the sector have good room for maneuver and benefit from reinforced negotiating power. However, wage increases and component prices could weigh on future performance.
Sector sheet – Electronics
Innovations are developing in connected health
At the last CES, innovations in health made significant progress. Thanks to the operation of Artificial Intelligence, numerous objects measuring each person’s constants and communicating in all rooms have been disclosed. Sensors can analyze urine, monitor nutrient or hormone levels. Other objects can measure blood pressure, heart rate and other indicators by analyzing the face from a selfie. Products in the prevention niche are very promising, as are certain start-ups, such as the French company Withings. After its Body Scan, a connected health station for the home, the company is preparing to market the first home urine analysis laboratory. It thus faces American giants like Apple in the prevention market.