Intel has been asked to provide information to the European Commission regarding its policies in licensing its microprocessors and general business practices, the Wall Street Journalreported today.
In its online edition the Journalcited Intel as saying it is co-operating with the inquiry but it would not comment further on its specifics.
"We believe our business practices are both fair and lawful," the company's statement concluded.
Intel employs 4,000 people in the State.
The Commission investigation is focused in part on possible exclusionary effects of Intel's marketing efforts, including the "Intel Inside" marketing subsidies, the Journalcited lawyers close to the case as saying.
These incentives are alleged to have been used to reward computer-makers that use Intel chips exclusively while punishing those companies building personal computers using competitors' chips.
The inquiry is examining Intel's licensing of the design for the internal data pathway, or "bus" of its chips, the lawyers close to the case said.
One allegation from competitors is that Intel pressed customers who bought rival computer chips. Such customers were alleged to have been denied crucial design data and their access to supplies of new Intel chips was limited.
In the past Intel has successfully addressed concerns raised by US anti-trust enforcers and has repeatedly prevailed in private anti-trust suits, the Journalsaid.
The European investigation of Intel began in September, the lawyers said - at about the same time the US Federal Trade Commmission ended its separate inquiry on Intel.
The FTC inquiry focused on Intel cutting off customers with which it had patent or business disputes, the report said.
AFP