Intel issues bullish statement on EU anti-trust case

Intel has been accused of anti-competitive behaviour for ten years

Intel says it is confident the worldwide microprocessor market is functioning normally in the face of a fresh anti-trust action from the European Commission.

Intel's rival AMD gained market share in 2005 and the first half of 2006, but suffered a downturn in the second half of the year following a price war, and has long complained of unfair practices by Intel.

Intel holds about an 80 per cent share of the chip market, while AMD controls less than 20 per cent.

In a statement Intel said its conduct has always been lawful, pro-competitive and beneficial to consumers.

"As evidence of the existence of a highly competitive and innovative microprocessor market, consumers have benefited from prices that have gone down significantly, output has increased many times over, and the performance of products, including ours, has improved exponentially," says the statement.