Intel in Euro-Land

The Wall Street Journal argues that "The case against Intel is the latest in a series of EU assaults on successful US technology companies. Brussels apparently is determined that if Europe can't be a global leader in information technology it can at least become that industry's world-wide regulator. If it succeeds, the world is bound to be a less competitive and innovative place - like, well, Europe."

Computer chips are getting faster and smaller, and prices are dropping amid fierce competition. So naturally the European Commission thinks this is the ideal time to lodge another antitrust suit against another American technology titan.

Last Friday, EU regulators accused Intel Corp. of offering computer makers -- brace yourself -- rebates designed to harm rival Advanced Micro Devices, or AMD, in the chip market. In Brussels jargon, that's an "abuse of a dominant position" and could lead to a fine of as much as 10% of Intel's annual global turnover, or perhaps €3.5 billion.