EU reveals 'smoking gun' e-mails from Intel antitrust probe

In an unusual move, the European Commission (EC) unveiled e-mail exchanges between Intel and computer manufacturers that its antitrust officials describe as "smoking gun" evidence from the probe that resulted in the chipmaker being fined just over $1.45 billion in May. A non-confidential version of the May ruling was made public Monday, less than a week after Intel's formal appeal of the decision was released by the Court of First Instance in Luxembourg. In its appeal, the company accused Europe's top antitrust authority of erring in law, conducting sloppy analysis, and denying it the right to a fair defense.