[Alpine]

Get ready with your reading glasses

LAWYERS FOR Intel and AMD have reached a preliminary agreement on a protective order in the high profile antitrust case, although it is subject to the judge's approval.

AMD said it is "very pleased" with the proposed order which it said will accelerate the discovery process. Third parties will receive copies of the order and must respond by the 12th of May if they don't like it up 'em.

According to an AMD representative, the protective order gives free public access to documents relating to Intel's conduct while protecting the third parties and minimising the process - even so, millions of pages of documents will enter the public domain.

The order, if the judge approves it, applies to AMD, to Intel and to the third parties which includes OEMs, distributors and retailers, as well as to the numerous class actions which latched on to the firm's antitrust coat tails. One contentious area is action by government authorities, both US and foreign. These organisations will get advance notice of requests for documents to give them a chance to object.

The INQuirer