Intel takes on antitrust expert as general counsel
updated 02:20 pm EST, Fri November 13, 2009
Intel fights EU, NY cases with new counsel
Intel today addressed its ongoing legal troubles with word that it has hired Douglas Melamed as both its new senior VP and general counsel. The new executive has over 30 years of experience with antitrust and regulatory issues both in private business as well as five years of service in the US Department of Justice through two assistant attorney general positions. Company chief Paul Otellini characterizes Melamed as an "outstanding fit" precisely for his experience with competition cases and government.
The choice is meant to help Intel's defense in ongoing antitrust cases. Although it recently struck a deal with AMD to end the latter's participation in such cases, antitrust cases are still underway in Europe, Japan and the US that accuse Intel of abusing its dominant market status through unfair pricing and coercion tactics. Among these include price dumps that AMD couldn't match, financial incentives to remain Intel-exclusive and warnings about selling more than a certain amount of non-Intel computers.
It's not mentioned how soon Melamed will have an influence on such cases. [image via Doc Searls]
