Europe issues interim antitrust order against Broadcom as probe continues

Europe has ordered chipmaker Broadcom to stop applying exclusivity clauses in agreements with six of its major customers -- imposing so called 'interim measures' based on preliminary findings from an ongoing antitrust investigation. The move follows a formal statement of objections issued by the Competition Commission in June. At the time the regulator said it would seek to order Broadcom to halt its behaviour while the investigation proceeds -- "to avoid any risk of serious and irreparable harm to competition”.