Justice Department subpoenas AMD over graphics

** UPDATE II 7.45PM Greenwich Mean Time. Intel confirmed it had not received a subpoena from the DoJ as yet. Although Intel has a large share of the graphics market, it does not make discrete graphics chips these days. ATI (now AMD), Nvidia and S3 make discrete graphics chips.

* UPDATE Nvidia has got one too, now. Like AMD, it runs: "No specific allegations have been made against Nvidia. Nvidia plans to cooperate with the DOJ in its investigation."

AMD HAS RECEIVED a subpoena from the Department of Justice (DoJ).

Business Week said the DoJ has started an investigation into potential breaches of antitrust laws.

AMD owns ATI but the only other major player in the graphics market is Nvidia.

If the DoJ is investigating AMD-ATI, no doubt it is sending letters to Nvidia and S3 as well.

The AMD press release is shorter than your average one. It runs: "AMD (NYSE:AMD) has received a subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) Antitrust Division in connection with the DOJ's investigation into potential antitrust violations related to graphics processors and cards. AMD entered the graphics processor business following the company's acquisition of ATI Technologies, Inc. last month (October 25, 2006). The DOJ has not made any specific allegations against AMD or ATI. AMD intends to cooperate with the investigation." µ

L'INQ
Business Week