Samsung Could Be Fined Up to $15 Billion for Using SEPs Against Apple

Samsung could face fines of up to $15 billion for its attempt to use standard-essential patents against Apple in Europe, reports the Guardian.

The potential fines can run to 10% of a company's worldwide turnover, which in Samsung's case would amount to nearly $15bn (£9.3bn), based on its 2011 revenues of $148.9bn. The commission opened its investigation into Samsung in January.

Last week the European Commission revealed it will charge Samsung with violating competition rules by filing patent lawsuits against Apple based on standard essential patents. Just days before Samsung dropped its lawsuits against Apple claiming, "Samsung remains committed to licensing our technologies on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms, and we strongly believe it is better when companies compete fairly in the marketplace, rather than in court. In this spirit, Samsung has decided to withdraw our injunction requests against Apple on the basis of our standard essential patents pending in European courts, in the interest of protecting consumer choice."


Notably, the company is still trying to seek bans on Apple products based on standard essential patents in the U.S., Asia, and Australia.

Samsung will be given time to respond to the commission and then the commission will determine what action to take against the company.

Read More [via BGR]