On a simple cost-benefit analysis, there was no reason for Intel to be fighting this fight. At present, Intel could have made a strong argument against the monopoly charges. AMD is planning an aggressive push into higher-end markets this year. This isn't good news for Intergraph and its lawsuit. If Intel was found to have a monopoly, it would have been easier for Intergraph to prove damages in its case, Donovan says.
Chances are, though, they'll approve unless somebody comes up with something extraordinary.
Although the Santa Clara, Calif.-based chip giant is still under investigation by the government, the FTC's top antitrust investigator, William Baer, suggested the door was open to a broader settlement that would resolve all charges. The commission's staff is committed to working expeditiously to resolve those concerns. Which means that Intel could have its antitrust worries wrapped up soon. Reuters and the Associated Press contributed to this story. The Intel-FTC action inevitably led industry watchers to compare it to the Microsoft antitrust case, brought to trial by the Justice Department.