The world’s largest chip manufacturer Intel entered into anti-competitive behaviour in order to stamp out rival chip-maker AMD, the European Commission has alleged.

According to the initial findings of the EC’s ongoing investigation into Intel’s market behaviour, the chip-making giant gave customers incentives to favour its products over those of AMD, its main competitor. The EC accused Intel of giving rebates to customers on the basis that they bought Intel products and of offering incentives to customers to delay or cancel purchases of products containing AMD technology.

It also accused Intel of offering server microchips at below cost.

These activities amounted to anti-competitive behaviour “aimed at excluding AMD from the market”, the EC alleges.  

Intel boasts around an 80% share of the chip-making market, with AMD accounting for the bulk of remaining sales.

Intel denies all allegations.