Intel’s antitrust settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) entails a restriction on its business practices, with the FTC banning the company from using unfair and deceptive means to thwart competition. The settlement essentially caps a decade-long push by the federal authorities to restrain the marketplace dominance of the biggest tech companies of the country.

Despite the fact that the FTC lacks the authority to penalize the company unless it breaches the terms of the settlement, the agency Wednesday outlined an agreement restricting Intel’s business practices in certain unprecedented ways.

As per the terms of the settlement, the chip-making giant has agreed that it would discontinue the use of threats and unfair discounts to block its rivals; grant rivals access to its leading processor technology for six years’ and resolve a costly, high-profile lawsuit which accuses the company of unlawfully stifling competition for more than ten years.

Noting that the FTC’s antitrust complaint against Intel “exceptionally important case,” and that “the commission was deeply troubled by Intel's actions,” FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz said that the settlement will increase competition in the chipmaking business; thereby benefitting consumers who wish to go in for the purchase of computers.

With the settlement deal bars Intel from striking back at computer makers doing business with non-Intel suppliers, David Balto, a former FTC policy director said that the “landmark settlement” will have “a striking effect on improving competition in the market.”