The notice represents an ugly escalation in the battle between the rival chip makers over the years. AMD has continuously accused Intel of anticompetitive behavior in the x86 microprocessor market by allegedly offering rebates and selling chips below cost to PC makers and retail stores. AMD helped initiate a European Commission investigation in Intel's business practices in 2000. The notice is the latest ploy by Intel to divert attention from the antitrust suits it faces worldwide, AMD claimed. "Intel's action is an attempt to distract the world from the global antitrust scrutiny it faces. Should this matter proceed to litigation, we will prove not only that Intel is wrong, but also that Intel fabricated this claim to interfere with our commercial relationships and thus has violated the cross-license," AMD said in a prepared statement.