Judgment of the General Court (Seventh Chamber, Extended Composition), 12 June 2014

(publication by extracts) Intel Corp. v European Commission

Competition — Abuse of dominant position — Microprocessors market — Decision finding an infringement of Article 82 EC and Article 54 of the EEA Agreement — Loyalty rebates — ‘Naked’ restrictions — Classification as abuse — As-efficient-competitor analysis — Commission’s international jurisdiction — Obligation on the Commission to investigate — Limits — Rights of the defence — Principle of sound administration — Overall strategy — Fines — Single and continuous infringement — 2006 Guidelines on the method of setting fines

Case T‑286/09



Top of the page Documents in the Case
Document Date Name of the parties Subject-matter Curia EUR-Lex Autres Liens
Judgment (OJ)
11/07/2014 Intel v Commission
Judgment
ECLI:EU:T:2014:547
12/06/2014 Intel v Commission
Judgment (extracts)
ECLI:EU:T:2014:547
12/06/2014 Intel v Commission
Judgment (Summary)
ECLI:EU:T:2014:547
12/06/2014 Intel v Commission
Application (OJ)
12/09/2009 Intel v Commission
Top of the page Legal analysis of the decision or of the case

Reports of Cases

not yet published (Court Reports - general) - publication in extract form

Subject-matter

Information not available

Systematic classification scheme

1.
3 Legal proceedings
  3.08 Procedural rules
    3.08.04 Subject-matter, form of order sought and pleas in law
      3.08.04.01 Formal requirements
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.48 Presumption of innocence and right of defence
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.00 General
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.08 Decision of the Commission
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.08 Decision of the Commission
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.01 Definition of abuse
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.06 EU law and international law
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.00 EU competition rules
      4.08.00.04 Territorial scope
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.06 Hearing of persons concerned and of third parties / Access to the file
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.01 Sources of EU law
    1.01.02 General principles of law
      1.01.02.05 Rights of the defence and procedural guarantees
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.06 Hearing of persons concerned and of third parties / Access to the file
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.41 Right to good administration
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.01 Bringing matters before the Commission
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.02 Examples of abuse
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.41 Right to good administration
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.06 Hearing of persons concerned and of third parties / Access to the file
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.02 Dominant position
      4.08.02.04 Abuse of a dominant position
        4.08.02.04.01 Definition of abuse
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.02 Procedure for the application of the competition rules by the Commission
        4.08.03.02.08 Decision of the Commission
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.03 Fines imposed by the Commission
        4.08.03.03.04 Fines for infringement of Articles 101 TFEU and 102 TFEU (Articles 81 EC and 82 EC)
          4.08.03.03.04.02 Basic amount
            4.08.03.03.04.02.01 Basic amount according to the 2006 Guidelines
              4.08.03.03.04.02.01.00 General
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.49 Principles of legality and proportionality of criminal offences and penalties
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.03 Fines imposed by the Commission
        4.08.03.03.04 Fines for infringement of Articles 101 TFEU and 102 TFEU (Articles 81 EC and 82 EC)
          4.08.03.03.04.01 Guidelines
            4.08.03.03.04.01.00 General
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.03 Fines imposed by the Commission
        4.08.03.03.01 Fines for infringements committed 'intentionally or negligently'
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.04 Fundamental rights
    1.04.03 The fundamental rights
      1.04.03.47 Right to an effective remedy and to a fair trial
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.03 Fines imposed by the Commission
        4.08.03.03.08 Judicial review
          4.08.03.03.08.03 Review in the exercise of unlimited jurisdiction
            4.08.03.03.08.03.01 Scope
1 The legal order of the European Union
  1.01 Sources of EU law
    1.01.02 General principles of law
      1.01.02.01 Principle of equality and non-discrimination
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.03 Fines imposed by the Commission
        4.08.03.03.05 Compliance with general principles and fundamental rights
          4.08.03.03.05.01 Equal treatment
4 Internal policy of the European Union
  4.08 Competition
    4.08.03 Implementation of the competition rules
      4.08.03.03 Fines imposed by the Commission
        4.08.03.03.04 Fines for infringement of Articles 101 TFEU and 102 TFEU (Articles 81 EC and 82 EC)
          4.08.03.03.04.02 Basic amount
            4.08.03.03.04.02.01 Basic amount according to the 2006 Guidelines
              4.08.03.03.04.02.01.02 Degree of gravity


Citations of case-law or legislation

References in grounds of judgment

Operative part

Information not available

Opinion

Information not available


Dates

Date of the lodging of the application initiating proceedings

  • 22/07/2009

Date of the Opinion

Information not available

Date of the hearing

Information not available

Date of delivery

12/06/2014


References

Publication in the Official Journal

Judgment: OJ C 245 from 28.07.2014, p.8

Application: OJ C 220 from 12.09.2009, p.41

Name of the parties

Intel v Commission

Notes on Academic Writings

  1. Maier, Martina: EuG: Harte Haltung gegen Geschäftspraktiken marktbeherrschender Unternehmen bestätigt, Betriebs-Berater 2014 p.2004 (DE)
  2. Venit, James S.: Case T-286/09 Intel v Commission—The Judgment of the General Court: All Steps Backward and No Steps Forward, European Competition Journal 2014 p.203-230 (EN)
  3. Nihoul, Paul: The Ruling of the General Court in Intel: Towards the End of an Effect-based Approach in European Competition Law?, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2014 Vol. 5 nº 8 p.521-530 (EN)
  4. Venit, James S.: The Intel Judgment, File Access, and Confidentiality in EU Competition Cases: Has the Time Come for Reform? , Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2014 Vol. 5 nº 10 p.681-692 (EN)
  5. Winckler, Antoine: L'arrêt Intel : l'économie est-elle soluble dans le droit?, L'Observateur de Bruxelles 2014 p.40-44 (FR)
  6. Vatovec, Lea: Posledice sodbe v zadevi Intel za presojo izključnih rabatnih sistemov, Pravna praksa 2014 nº 33 p.20-22 (SL)
  7. Bastidas Venegas, Vladimir: En effektbaserad kontra en formbaserad bedömning av missbruk enligt artikel 102 FEUF - Tribunalens avgörande i Intel, Ny Juridik 2014 nº 4 p.31-62 (SV)
  8. Idot, Laurence: Abus de position dominante et rabais d'exclusivité, Europe 2014 Août-Septembre nº 8-9 p.29 (FR)
  9. Pielmuș, Ana-Maria: Evoluții recente ale practicii decizionale a instanțelor europene cu privire la discounturile acordate de întreprinderile dominante - implicații ale hotărârii Tribunalului în cauza Intel împotriva Comisiei Europene, Revista română de drept al afacerilor 2014 nº 8 p.103-122 (RO)
  10. Wernicke, Stephan: Das Intel-Urteil des EuG – ein Lehrstück dogmatischer Kontinuität, Europäische Zeitschrift für Wirtschaftsrecht 2015 p.19-23 (DE)
  11. Wurmnest, Wolfgang ; Lund, Nils: Die internationale Reichweite der europäischen Wettbewerbsregeln nach dem Intel-Urteil des EuG, Neue Zeitschrift für Kartellrecht 2015 p.73-78 (DE)
  12. Petit, Nicolas: Intel, leveraging rebates and the goals of Article 102 TFEU, European Competition Journal 2015 p.26-68 (EN)
  13. Özkan, Ahmet Fatih: The Intel judgment: the Commission threw the first stone but the EU courts will throw the last, European Competition Journal 2015 p.69-85 (EN)
  14. Sher, Brian: Keep Calm—Yes; Carry on—No! A Response to Whish on Intel, Journal of European Competition Law & Practice 2015 Vol. 6 nº 4 p.219-220 (EN)
  15. Goffinet, Pierre: The judgment of the General Court in the Intel case and the opinion of the Advocate General in the Post Danmark case: a reconsideration of the policy of the European Commision?, ÖZK aktuell : Österreichische Zeitschrift für Kartell- und Wettbewerbsrecht 2015 p.127-139 (EN)
  16. Behrens, Peter: Der extraterritoriale Schutz des Systems unverfälschten Wettbewerbs nach dem Intel-Urteil des EuG?, Privatrecht, Wirtschaftsrecht, Verfassungsrecht (Ed. 2015 Nomos Verlagsgesellschaft, Baden-Baden) 2015 p.542-548 (DE)
  17. Peeperkorn, Luc: Conditional pricing : Why the General Court is wrong in Intel and what the Court of Justice can do to rebalance the assessment of rebates, Concurrences : revue des droits de la concurrence 2015 nº 1 p.43-63 (EN)
  18. Kjølbye, Lars ; Padilla, Jorge ; Snelders, Robbert: The Intel controversy: an introduction, Competition Law & Policy Debate 2015 Vol. 1 p.28-31 (EN)
  19. Bodenstein, Ines: Intel und Post Danmark II – Die Weichen für die zukünftige Bewertung von Rabatten nach Art. 102 AEUV sind so gut wie gestellt!, Zeitschrift für Wettbewerbsrecht 2015 p.403-420 (DE)
  20. Jones, Alison ; Sufrin, Brenda: The European way - reflections on the Intel judgment, Competition Law & Policy Debate 2015 Vol. 1 p.32-42 (EN)
  21. Allan, Bill: Loyalty and fidelity rebates: a sense of déjà vu again, Competition Law & Policy Debate 2015 Vol. 1 p.50-59 (EN)
  22. Ahlborn, Christian ; Piccinin, Daniel: The Intel judgment and consumer welfare - a response to Wouter Wils, Competition Law & Policy Debate 2015 Vol. 1 p.60-75 (EN)
  23. Dolmans, Maurits ; Graf, Thomas: Dealing with Intel intelligently delineating the scope and limits of the Court’s ruling, Competition Law & Policy Debate 2015 Vol. 1 p.76-85 (EN)
  24. Neven, Damien: A structured assessment of rebates contingent on exclusivity, Competition Law & Policy Debate 2015 Vol. 1 p.86-96 (EN)
  25. Goffinet, Pierre: The judgment of the General Court in the Intel case and the opinion of the Advocate General in the Post Danmark case: a reconsideration of the policy of the European Commission?, ÖZK aktuell : Österreichische Zeitschrift für Kartell- und Wettbewerbsrecht 2016 p.123-137 (EN)
  26. Marty, Frédéric: Éviction abusive - Remise de fidélité - Dénigrement - Opérateur historique : L'Autorité de la concurrence sanctionne l'opérateur historique en matière de télédiffusion par voie hertzienne à hauteur de 20.6 millions d'euros pour des pratiques d'éviction anticoncurrentielles durant le déploiement de la TNT passant par des stratégies de dénigrement et la mise en oeuvre de rabais de fidélité, Concurrences : revue des droits de la concurrence 2016 nº 3 p.79-82 (FR)
  27. Carli, Cecilia: La Commissione aveva ragione, o forse si sbagliava (davvero) ?, Mercato concorrenza regole 2017 p.149-167 (IT)
  28. Goffinet, Pierre ; Siniscalco, Léa: The judgments of the Court of Justice in the Intel case: is the “as-efficient competitor test” for exclusivity rebates back?, ÖZK aktuell : Österreichische Zeitschrift für Kartell- und Wettbewerbsrecht 2018 p.159-173 (EN)
  29. FIŠER ŠOBOT, Sandra: A New Approach to Rebates After Intel Case, LeXonomica : revija za pravo in ekonomijo 2018 nº 02 p.103-118 (EN)
  30. Cole, Matthew: No data, no abuse: the lesson from Intel's "more economic approach", European Competition Law Review 2023, Volume 44, Issue 10, p. 419-428 (EN)



Procedural Analysis Information

Source of the question referred for a preliminary ruling

Information not available

Subject-matter

  • Competition
  • - Dominant position

Provisions of national law referred to

Information not available

Provisions of international law referred to

Information not available

Procedure and result

  • Actions for annulment : dismissal on substantive grounds
  • Appeal brought against a sanction : dismissal on substantive grounds

Formation of the Court

septième chambre élargie (Tribunal)

Judge-Rapporteur

Dittrich

Advocate General

Information not available

Language(s) of the Case

  • English

Language(s) of the Opinion

    Information not available