EU Regulators Are Now Investigating Apple/Samsung Patent Battle

Concerned that Apple's patent battle with Samsung could be restricting competition, EU Regulators are now investigating the situation, according to Reuters.

The European Commission earlier this month asked Apple and Samsung for details on patents used as standards in the mobile telephone industry. Both companies are locked in a smartphone patent war involving more than 20 cases in 10 countries.

"We requested information from both Apple and Samsung. We have not yet received the answers. We need to look at this because IP rights can be used as a distortion of competition but we will need to look at the answers," EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia told reporters.


"In particular, in the IT sector, it is obvious it is not the only case. Apple and Samsung is only one case where IP rights can be used as an instrument to restrict competition," he said. "Standardisation and IP rights are two instruments that in this new IT sector can be used as a tool to abuse."

Companies found breaching EU rules can be fined up to 10% of global turnover.

Read More