Intel Corp (INTC)

[Windsock]

I am afraid that I have to disagree. The decision by the Commission will have a good deal of significance. It is always difficult to get much help on appeal. The next step before the Court of First Instance should provide Intel with a fair hearing for the first time but it is an appellate proceeding.

As a case in point, consider how little relief if any Microsoft was able to obtain on appeal in the EU.

What will not matter much at all, is the rebate rules that the Commission will apparently issue. My bet is that the restrictions won't slow Intel at all. The EU countries do not have class actions so the speculation in the press that Intel will get hit with class actions has no merit.

The only thing that an adverse Commission will do is to cause Intel to redouble its resolve to proceed full speed with product design and process development that will leave AMD trailing further and further behind.