The European Union ’s top antimonopoly authority has set in motion an investigation into Samsung ’s use of patents to block sales of Apple products .
The news will be a rise to Apple in theongoing sound battles between the two companies .
Samsung has sued Apple in five E.U. countries alleging infringement of its patent on 3 G nomadic engineering . The European Commission will now consider whether the South Korean companionship is abusing the principle of fair , fair and non - discriminatory ( FRAND ) licensing in these case .
FRAND licences allow company to grow open standards for systems such as 3 G mobile networks by apportion information and engineering . Standards bodies typically involve that party participating in the development of a criterion agree to license any relevant patent of invention they carry on FRAND terms if their engineering is essential to the criterion . That ’s notably the pillowcase with the 3 G Partnership Project , which maintain the standards for UMTS ( Universal Mobile Telecommunications System ) 3 G mobile networks . The purpose is to leave the industriousness to work swimmingly and give more choice to consumers . Samsung and Apple are both 3GPP fellow member .
Samsung brought its cases against Apple in revenge for Apple ’s claims that Samsung was simulate its product . In a late California court filing , Apple said : “ Samsung ’s effort to pressure Apple into tolerating Samsung ’s caricature have not been determine to counterclaims . Samsung has launched an strong-growing , world-wide crusade to enjoin Apple from allegedly practise Samsung ’s patents . ”
However on Friday Samsung replied : “ Samsung has at all times persist attached to average , sensible and non - preferential licensing terms for our wireless standards - related patents . We have received a request for information from the Commission and are cooperating fully . observe that this is a preliminary probe and the European Commission has not yet determined whether to carry a full investigation . ”
In a preliminary investigating the Commission call for information from the concerned company . Such requests for information are received procedure in antitrust investigations to allow the Commission to establish the relevant facts in a grammatical case . If there is sufficient grounds the the EU ’s competition prescript have been go against a wide investigating will then travel along .
If the Commission finds that Samsung is hangdog of antimonopoly misdemeanor , it could force Samsung to drop its legal cases against Apple in Europe , with possible repercussions on other cases worldwide . The Commission also has the power to impose fines .
