The trial for Advanced Micro Devices' five-year-old antitrust suit alleging that competitor Intel unfairly manipulated the chip market has been delayed until February 2010.

The trial was previously scheduled for April 2009, AMD spokeswoman Hollis Krym, said Friday.

AMD is accusing Intel of using illegal subsidies in order to coerce 38 companies in North America, Asia and Europe to use its products, in some cases threatening retribution if those companies used or sold AMD products.

It alleges that Intel pushed major customers, such as Dell, Sony, Gateway and Hitachi, into making exclusive deals in return for cash, discriminatory pricing or marketing subsidies.

The long-running suit has been beset by snags. Intel said in March 2007 it may have lost internal e-mail needed as evidence for the trial. Recent court documents show that Intel is still hunting for internal e-mail.

The civil suit, which will be heard in U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware, was filed in June 2005.

Intel faces continuing antitrust problems. On Thursday, the Korea Fair Trade Commission fined it US$25 million for abusing its dominant position in the chip market in South Korea.

The KFTC's investigation centered on whether Intel offered rebates to South Korean computer makers in a way that harmed AMD. Intel can appeal the finding to Seoul's high court.

The IDG News Service is a Network World affiliate.