In a signal from the European Commission that it is stepping up its investigation into possible illegal business practices by Intel, the commission is asking four European countries why they favor processors made by the U.S. semiconductor firm.
The move came just days after a U.S. judge ruled that Intel's arch rival, Advanced Micro Devices, could not use Intel documents produced in a U.S. case for the European investigation. The value of the documents has been in doubt anyway, because the EU has indicated it doesn't need them.
In petitioning France, the Netherlands, Finland, and Sweden for data on their public tenders for processors, the EU served notice that it is expanding its investigation. Previously, it had petitioned Germany and Italy, asking those governments to justify their requirements that favored Intel processors in their computer purchases.
In its notices announced Wednesday, the EU said it gave the four governments two months to reply or they will be served with an order "to rectify irregularities in the award of these contracts."
The EU previously said its examination of Intel was initiated after Intel competitors complained. AMD has complained of what it calls Intel's unfair sales practices in Europe, although the EU has not singled out AMD as a complainant against Intel in its current case against.
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