Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Technology Stocks : Intel Corporation (INTC) -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Chris Carlson who wrote (72491)	1/29/1999 8:00:00 PM
From: John Hull	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 186894

All: Senators speak in defense of Intel... biz.yahoo.com Friday January 29, 7:31 pm Eastern Time US FTC should respect intellectual prop.-senators WASHINGTON, Jan 29 (Reuters) - Two senators have written to the Federal Trade Commission to express concern that the agency is not giving enough weight to intellectual property rights in antitrust cases. Democrats Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon and Sen. Bob Torricelli of New Jersey sent a letter Friday to FTC Chairman Robert Pitofsky to convey their fears that recent FTC enforcementefforts pose a danger to innovation by technology companies. The issue has arisen in the upcoming trial of Intel Corp.(Nasdaq:INTC - news) where the FTC has accused the giant computer chip maker of abusing its dominance in dealings with competitors. Intel has acknowledged that it cut off Digital Equipment Corp., Compaq Computer Corp.(NYSE:CPQ - news), and Intergraph Corp (Nasdaq:INGR - news) from access to technical information when the companies sued Intel - or its allies - for patent infringement. Digital was bought by Compaq last year. Intel argues that it has a right to withhold technical help from companies which are suing it. The trial before an FTC administrative law judge is due to start March 9. ''While we greatly respect and support the Commission's tradition of aggressive defense of our antitrust statutes, we are concerned that the FTC's recent enforcement efforts could pose unchartered danger to innovation and ultimately to the competitiveness of U.S. companies abroad,'' the Senator said. The two lawmakers said U.S. intellectual property and antitrust laws had evolved and traditionally been enforced to maximize the incentive to invent products and processes. ''Sen. Wyden is very concerned about the Intel matter and the implications for other high technology companies that depend on innovation,'' said a spokesman.