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India Antitrust Regulator Fines Intel ₹27.38 Crore Over Discriminatory Warranty Policy

CCI also ordered public notice of the policy’s withdrawal with a compliance report.

Overview

  • The order finds Intel abused its dominant position in India's boxed desktop microprocessor market in contravention of Section 4 of the Competition Act.
  • Under the India-specific rule in force since April 2016, warranty service in India applied only to products bought from authorised Indian distributors, with overseas purchases redirected to the country of sale.
  • CCI said the policy was discriminatory versus Intel’s warranty practices in China, Australia and other markets, and it curtailed consumer choice and parallel imports.
  • The regulator computed the fine at 8% of average relevant turnover for the eight years the policy operated, then cut the amount after Intel ended the policy effective April 1, 2024.
  • The case began with a complaint by Matrix Info Systems under Section 19(1)(a), and Intel must now publicise the withdrawal and submit a compliance report.