By Christine Caulfield

Law360, New York (May 13, 2009, 12:00 AM ET) -- The European Commission's record-breaking €1.1 billion (US$1.5 billion) fine against Intel Corp. for alleged monopoly abuses in the massive computer processor market could pressure U.S. regulators to step up their investigations and force the chip giant to overhaul its business practices worldwide, according to attorneys.

The antitrust watchdog's fine far exceeds the penalty it imposed against Microsoft Corp. in 2008 and reflects Intel's “serious and sustained” violation of the European Union's antitrust rules, EU Competition Commissioner Neelie Kroes said Wednesday in handing down the regulator's long-awaited...