FTC meeting to decide today on Intel action

The American Federal Trade Commission meets today to vote on antitrust action against Intel, the dominant producer of personal computer microprocessors. The FTC will vote on whether to bring a suit alleging that Intel illegally misused monopoly power to force others to give up their trade secrets and co-operate with Intel. The case is being considered as the Justice Department and 20 states are pursing major antitrust actions against Microsoft which, together with Intel, dominates the computer industry. Intel makes the microprocessors that run four out of five personal computers. In April, the FTC alleged in a different case that Intel had "market power" - that is, a monopoly - in microprocessors. That earlier case was settled the same day it was announced.