[News] More on Corruption in the Federal Trade Commission (Which Helps Microsoft and Intel)
Roy Schestowitz
FTC head won't recuse from Google deal
,----[ Quote ]
| The Electronic Privacy Information Center and the Center for Digital
| Democracy said in a petition Wednesday that Majoras' husband, John M.
| Majoras, is a partner at the Jones Day law firm.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071214/ap_on_hi_te/ftc_google
Deborah Platt Majoras has let other vicious monopolies and abusers grease her
up to turn a blind eye. The same goes for Thomas in the DoJ. Corruptions
galore, and it all goes back to the government.
Recent:
FTC Chair Asked to Step Down From DoubleClick Review
,----[ Quote ]
| U.S. Federal Trade Commission Chairman Deborah Platt Majoras is consulting
| with the agency's ethics officer to see if she should recuse herself from a
| review of Google's planned acquisition of online ad network DoubleClick.
`----
http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20071213/tc_pcworld/140517
Sources: FTC extends Google-DoubleClick review
,----[ Quote ]
| Antitrust regulators with the Federal Trade Commission have received an
| extension to review the controversial $3.1 billion Google-DoubleClick
| megamerger, according to sources.
`----
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9833124-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Months ago:
Intel dodges formal U.S. antitrust probe - report
,----[ Quote ]
| Head of F.T.C. nixes Intel probe, despite investigations in Europe and South
| Korea.
`----
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/22/technology/intel_ftc/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote
Regulators Avoiding Intel Investigation?
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071022/intel_ftc.html?.v=1
US FTC staff not held back on Intel-commissioner
,----[ Quote
| FTC Chairman Deborah Majoras, a Republican, has rejected requests by
| lawmakers, other commissioners and Advanced Micro Devices Inc to open a
| formal antitrust investigation into its much larger rival Intel, the New York
| Times reported on Monday.
`----
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN2245923020071022?rpc=44
Report: FTC rejects calls for antitrust probe of Intel
,----[ Quote ]
| The New York Times reported on Monday that FTC Chairman Deborah Majoras has
| rejected requests to escalate at informal review into a formal investigation,
| citing unnamed government officials and lawyers involved in the matter.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/bizj/071022/1538729.html?.v=1
Related:
Business Group Spent $140,000 Lobbying
,----[ Quote ]
| The group's members include Intel Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp. and Bristol-Myers
| Squibb Co.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070821/intel_lobbying.html?.v=1
FTC won't step up Intel antitrust probe
,----[ Quote ]
| Intel, the world's biggest maker of computer chips, has been cited for
| anti-competitive behavior for allegedly offering large discounts to computer
| makers in exchange for their not using products from AMD, the paper said.
|
| Those faulting Intel include regulators with the European Commission and
| Korea, the Times said. Japanese officials also made similar accusations in
| 2005, it said. Intel controls some 80 percent to 90 percent of the microchip
| market, it said.
`----
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN2138149820071022?rpc=44
Intel Gets FTC's OK on Flash Chip Merger
,----[ Quote ]
| Intel Corp. has received antitrust clearance to form a new flash memory firm
| with STMicroelectronics NV.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/071018/intel_stmicroelectronics.html?.v=1
Top sales official at AMD steps down
,----[ Quote ]
| Richard, known for his sharp suits and frank comments about AMD's much-larger
| rival Intel Corp., oversaw AMD's international sales force and corporate
| marketing initiatives.
`----
Why Brussels is Abuzz with Lobbyists
,----[ Quote
| As the EU sets more rules, corporations are building their presence and
| paying for clout
`----
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/oct2007/gb20071018_193716.htm?campaign_id=yhoo
Intel's Otellini accuses the EU of being anti-American
,----[ Quote ]
| Still, he sighed, the worst case scenario is that he might have to write a
| cheque, even if fines in the current case could be as high as $3.2 billion
`----.
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2007/10/24/eu-getting-anti-american
Intel Hires Lobbying Firm
,----[ Quote ]
| Computer chip maker Intel Corp. has hired FBA Inc. to lobby the federal
| government, according to a federal disclosure form.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070821/intel_lobbying.html?.v=1
Intel Joins Bill Clinton's Global Initiative
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070927/20070927005350.html?.v=1
Micron Opening Lobbying Office in DC
,----[ Quote ]
| Micron Technology Inc., on Thursday said it has opened a government
| affairs office in Washington to lead the computer memory maker's
| lobbying efforts on patent reform, international trade, research
| funding and other issues.
|
| [...]
|
| Carroll, 33, worked for the last six years as trade policy
| director for semiconductor maker Intel Corp., which she joined
| in 1998 as European government affairs policy manager based in
| Brussels, Belgium.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070301/micron_expansion.html?.v=1
Marketing Group Spent $350,000 Lobbying
,----[ Quote ]
| The Direct Marketing Association spent $350,000 in the first half of 2007 to
| lobby the federal government, according to a disclosure form.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070821/marketing_industry_lobbying.html?.v=1
S. Korea sends Intel antitrust statement-company
,----[ Quote ]
| South Korea began investigating Intel's marketing and rebate practices for
| computer processors two years ago after similar probes by Japan and the
| European Union.
`----
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN1337305020070913?rpc=44
Korean antitrust probe of Intel ends, penalties to be decided soon
,----[ Quote ]
| Although neither Intel nor the KFTC provided details on the findings, sources
| told the Korea Times said that the antitrust regulators did plan to impose
| penalties on the chipmaker. "The FTC gained some evidence backing up
| suspicions that Intel has offered discounts to computer makers in exchange
| for sealing exclusive deals, and coerced dealers not to buy products from
| rivals such as Advanced Micro Devices (AMD)," said one source.
`----
Intel: South Korean Antitrust Probe Over
,----[ Quote ]
| South Korean media have reported the inquiry has centered on allegations
| Intel abused its market dominance by pressuring computer makers to avoid
| using chips made by Intel's rivals.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070911/skorea_intel.html?.v=2
Intel to Reply Soon to Antitrust Queries
,----[ Quote ]
| It is not common for the Federal Trade Commission, which issued a second
| request for information to Intel last week, to ask for more information on
| such mergers.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070905/as_tec_india_intel_stmicroelectronics.html?.v=1
US antitrust group urges Intel investigation
,----[ Quote ]
| The American Antitrust Institute (AAI), a Washington DC lobby group, has
| written an open letter to the Federal Trade Commission urging an
| investigation of Intel's allegedly monopolistic business practices.
|
| [...]
|
| AAI say its insistence of an investigation is based on allegations by AMD in
| a private case and information obtained by the EC's complaint, which have not
| been made public
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/08/30/aai_wants_intel_probe_expansion/
Intel urged to give more data on flash unit deal
,----[ Quote ]
| ...U.S. Federal Trade Commission has requested additional information on the
| company's deal with STMicroelectronics...
`----
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKWNAS317820070830?rpc=44
The Fight for Fair and Open Competition
,----[ Quote ]
| AMD is an undisputed technology and innovation leader.
|
| However, Intel's abusive, illegal monopolistic behavior is preventing
| businesses and consumers alike from choosing freely between AMD and Intel
| products.
`----
http://breakfree.amd.com/en-us/antitrust.aspx
EC says Intel influenced bids for computer projects
,----[ Quote ]
| The third type of allegation, however, was new, and sounded like a variety of
| predatory pricing. “In the context of bids against AMD-based products for
| strategic customers in the server segment of the market,” the commission
| press release said, “Intel has offered CPUs on average below cost.”
`----
http://legalpad.blogs.fortune.com/2007/08/03/ec-says-intel-influenced-bids-for-computer-projects/
Negroponte says Intel should be "ashamed of itself"
,----[ Quote ]
| He is furious that Intel's CEO Craig Barrett called the One Laptop a
| gadget. The Negroponte initiative is caught in the middle of a vicious
| fight between AMD and Intel, he said.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=39733
AMD chief condemns Intel 'abuses'
,----[ Quote ]
| In 2005, after the Japan Fair Trade Commission found Intel guilty of
| offering illegal rebates to Japanese PC makers, AMD filed an anti-trust
| suit against its competitor in the U.S. District Court in Delaware. The
| case has not been decided.
`----
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/2007/06/21/amd_ceo_condemns_intel_abuses/
AMD: Intel Destroyed Evidence in Antitrust Case
,----[ Quote ]
| In an unpublished statement to the U.S. District Court of Delaware,
| AMD alleges Intel allowed the destruction of evidence in pending
| antitrust litigation.
`----
http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=6352
Video: Henri Richard comes out swinging at Intel during AMD press conference
,----[ Quote ]
| [AMD's Henri Richard:] "I am sick and tired of being pushed around
| by a competitor that doesn't respect the rules of fair and open
| competition."
`----
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Berlind/?p=363
Investors sue Dell on payments from Intel: WSJ
,----[ Quote ]
| An investor lawsuit seeking class-action status accuses Dell Inc. of
| improper accounting in its relationship with chip giant Intel,
| according to a media report published Thursday evening.
|
| [...]
|
| The suit alleges that Dell received at times as much as $1 billion
| a year in "secret and likely illegal" kickbacks in the form of
| "e-Cap" or "exception to corporate average pricing" payments"
| from Intel to ensure that Dell used no other chip supplier,
| according to The Journal.
`----
Lenovo got financial help from Intel, claim
,----[ Quote ]
| Journalists on the title said Lenovo is being paid a "pretty
| penny" from Intel to use its chips.
`----
http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=37670
,----[ Quote ]
| In 2005, a unit of Shenzhen Donjin countersued, saying Intel engaged
| in monopolistic practices.
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070514/china_intel_settlement.html?.v=7
Intel's anti-trust memos started vanishing from the top
,----[ Quote ]
| Chairman Craig Barrett, CEO Paul Otellini and sales chief Sean Maloney
| have appeared on a list of Intel employees thought to have deleted
| e-mails possibly relevant to AMD's anti-trust lawsuit against its
| larger rival. The missing e-mails have thrust a livid state of mind
| onto AMD's lawyers who have very serious problems with Intel's
| rather lax document retention policy.
|
| [...]
|
| CEO Otellini appears to have been one of these troublesome employees.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/03/11/intel_tortellini_episode/
Microsoft Finds Legal Defender in Justice Dept.
,----[ Quote ]
| Nearly a decade after the government began its landmark effort to break
| up Microsoft, the Bush administration has sharply changed course by
| repeatedly defending the company both in the United States and abroad
| against accusations of anticompetitive conduct, including the recent
| rejection of a complaint by Google.
|
| [...]
|
| In the most striking recent example of the policy shift, the top
| antitrust official at the Justice Department last month urged state
| prosecutors to reject a confidential antitrust complaint filed by
| Google that is tied to a consent decree that monitors Microsoft's
| behavior. Google has accused Microsoft of designing its latest
| operating system, Vista, to discourage the use of Google's desktop
| search program, lawyers involved in the case said.
`----
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/10/business/10microsoft.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin
Kroes slams US criticism of EU Microsoft ruling
,----[ Quote ]
| Kroes said that it was "unacceptable" that a representative of the US
| judiciary should criticise a court of law outside his jurisdiction.
|
| “It is absolutely not done,” she told journalists on Wednesday.
|
| “The European commission does not pass judgement on US rulings and we should
| expect the same from the US.”
`----
http://www.eupolitix.com/EN/News/200709/87884c7c-c721-49b1-b6f0-5ba4ece0897c.htm
Microsoft, The European Union, and the United States: A Statement by the AAI
,----[ Quote ]
| The AAI comments on the European Court of First Instance's upholding of the
| EC's Microsoft decision, taking the USDOJ to task for poor diplomacy and
| mistaken policy in its criticism of the EC.
`----
http://www.antitrustinstitute.org/Archives/miceu3.ashx
Microsoft sets spinners on court verdict
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft may have lost in court, but it quickly tried to win the war of
| media reaction via organisations like CompTIA, the Computing Technology
| Industry Association and ACT (the Association for Competitive Technology)
| which both intervened in court on its side.
`----
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/09/17/reaction_microsoft_verdict/
US politicians go to bat for Microsoft
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/09/26/microsoft_eu_political_lobbying/
Report Says Nonprofits Sold Influence to Abramoff
,----[ Quote ]
| E-mails released by the committee show that Abramoff, often
| with the knowledge of the groups' leaders, exploited the tax-exempt
| status and leveraged the stature of the organizations to build
| support among conservatives for legislation or government action
| sought by clients including Microsoft Corp., mutual fund company
| DH2 Inc., Primedia Inc.'s Channel One Network, and Brown-Forman,
| maker of Jack Daniel's whiskey.
`----
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/10/12/AR2006101200889.html
http://tinyurl.com/y2rbpu
Politicians in Microsoft's Pocket
,----[ Quote ]
| Continuing on the theme of which politicians are receiving money from
| who. Here is a list of candidates who took money from MSFT.
`----
http://www.fonz.net/blog/archives/2007/06/04/politicians-in-microsofts-pocket/
Politics and tech companies: follow the money
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft took first place with $651,100 given out, while
| Hewlett-Packard gave only $185,550, and Gateway gave a paltry
| $2,000. Microsoft's donations certainly illustrate well the true
| size of the company and the extent of its political concerns.
`----
http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20061110-8194.html
Microsoft Paid Lobbyist $160,000
,----[ Quote ]
| Microsoft Paid Paid Bingham McCutchen $160,000 to Lobby Federal Gov't in
| First Half of 2007
`----
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/070905/microsoft_lobbying.html?.v=1
Microsoft's 'Men in Black' kill Florida open standards legislation
,----[ Quote
| It was just a bit of text advocating open data formats that was slipped into
| a Florida State Senate bill at the last minute with no fanfare, but within
| 24 hours three Microsoft-paid lobbyists, all wearing black suits, were
| pressuring members of the Senate Committee on Governmental Operations
| (COGO) to remove the words they didn't like from Senate bill 1974.
`----
http://enterprise.linux.com/article.pl?sid=07/04/16/2019244&from=rss
Microsoft Looks for the Big Guns in OOXML In-Fighting
,----[ Quote ]
| Bill Gates has reportedly been making phone calls to the Secretary of Defense
| and the Secretary of Commerce to push the American National Standards
| Institute to ignore the votes of its advisory committees and vote "yes" on
| ISO standardizing Microsoft's Open Office XML (OOXML) format, the one in
| competition with the OpenDocument Format (ODF) pushed by IBM and Sun.
|
| Gates reportedly picked up the phone when the last INCITS ballot failed by
| one vote to support Microsoft.
`----