This is interesting to me because we are constantly told by Apple fanbois that there can be no antitrust without a monopoly.
Yet here we have Samsung being investigated for antitrust. What is Samsung's monopoly?
European regulators are investigating whether Samsung has breached EU antitrust laws amid an ongoing global patent dispute, the European Commission confirmed today.
“The (European) Commission has indeed sent requests for information to Apple and Samsung concerning the enforcement of standards-essential patents in the mobile telephony sector,” it said in a statement.
Keen to stress that requests for such information are “standard procedure”, Apple’s filings suggest a deeper investigation into Samsung’s patent claims.
(Image source: Flickr, CC)
In retaliation for Apple’s assault, Samsung’s counterclaims are based upon patents essential to UMTS, a crucial technology enabling 3G cellular transmissions across mobile networks. These patents were licensed under “Fair, Reasonable and Non-Discriminatory” (FRAND) terms, which Apple argues is bad for business and a breach of Samsung’s pledge.
The Commission believes this is something worth investigating. As discovered by FOSS Patents author Florian Mueller, the filing said:
“Samsung’s litigation campaign and other conduct related to its declared-essential patents is so egregious that the European Commission recently has opened an investigation to determine whether Samsung’s behaviour violates EU competition laws.”
Samsung told a Dutch publication that it is co-operating fully with the authorities.
If the Commission finds that Samsung has broken antitrust law, it could result in Samsung being forced to drop its legal cases against Apple in Europe, which could then in turn trickle down to remaining, ongoing action in other non-EU jurisdiction.
The Commission can fine a company up to 10 percent of its global turnover, if European rules have been violated, reports Reuters.
Apple has argued that Samsung’s Galaxy smartphones and tablets infringed Apple’s design patents pertaining to its iPhone and iPad devices. Samsung, however, has returned fire by bringing its own patents infringement claims against the Cupertino-based giant, in a number of European courts.
Samsung’s Galaxy tablets have been banned from sale in a number of countries, notably Germany and Australia.
Yet, within days of the iPhone 4S launch, Samsung sought a sales ban of the smartphone in France and Italy, claiming Apple had infringed its patents in the device, adding fuel to the ongoing patent fire. A fortnight later, the Korean smartphone giant had filed in two further countries, Japan and Australia.
While the suits continue, the iPhone 4S remains as Apple’s fastest selling product to date.
Related:
- U.S. judge: ‘Samsung tablets infringe Apple patents’
- Samsung seeks to ban iPhone 4S amid patent row
- Samsung ramps up Apple fight: Now seeks ban in Australia, Japan
- Apple’s iPhone 4S: A look at the winners, losers
- Verizon sides with Samsung in Apple patent spat
- T-Mobile sides with Samsung’s defense in Apple patent suit
