AMD subpoenas Microsoft in Intel dispute

By Steve Malone

Posted on 18 Apr 2006 at 10:55

AMD has added Microsoft to the list of companies it has subpoenaed in support of its allegations that rival Intel has acted illegally in trying to block out competition. Microsoft now joins a list of some of the biggest names in the PC business including Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and a long list of others.

The subpoena, which was served on Microsoft on 13 April, asks that Microsoft provide the requested documents by 15 May.

AMD is fishing for a variety of correspondence and emails dating back as far as January 2000. The requested information mostly deals with Microsoft's development strategy including topics such as including AMD in its development discussions and financial discussions about the company.

For many years AMD has alleged that Intel has used its market dominance to prevent AMD from gaining market share. The company has waged a world wide campaign taking in Europe, Japan and the US, which has led to a number of local anti-trust authorities opening investigations into Intel's business practices.

Among the specific topics requested are correspondence regarding Microsoft's decision to develop software for the AMD 64 line of processors, the Trusted Computing Initiative jointly under development by Microsoft and Intel, and discussions relating to AMD advertising, price and performance comparisons with Intel and the company's long term financial viability. It is also searching for any information related to Intel's reaction to any move by Microsoft.