(New York, NY)  --  Technology giant Intel is facing an antitrust lawsuit from the Empire State.

   New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo alleges the world's largest computer microchip maker paid off some of the country's largest computer manufacturers and forced them into near-exclusive agreements.

   He added the illegal tactics worked because the computer companies were dependent on Intel for those chips.
   One payoff alleged by Cuomo is a nearly two-billion-dollar payment from Intel to Dell in 2006.

   Intel is accused of punishing computer manufacturers who tried to give customers a choice of non-Intel chips.

   Cuomo says the lawsuit aims to stop Intel from engaging in illegal conduct in the future and to recover monetary damages suffered by consumers.

   The lawsuit stems from an investigation that started a year ago.



   (Copyright 2009 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)