The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) said yesterday that it had approval of a settlement with computer chip giant Intel over charges that the company abused its monopoly of power.

The settlement will now be subject to a 60-day period of public comment, after which the FTC will decide whether to make it final.

A tentative deal between Intel and FTC lawyers was announced last week, just one day before the case was scheduled to go to trial before an administrative law judge.

Intel had been accused of withholding vital information from three companies in a bid to force them to licence their patented technologies to the chip giant.

Under the settlement, Intel would be prohibited from withholding technical information as a means of putting pressure on potential rivals, though its right to do so for legitimate business reasons would be protected.