Korea To Investigate Apple’s Samsung Antitrust Claims

Samsung is being investigated by the Korean Fair Trade Commission (FTC) over claims that it is abusing its dominant position in wireless technology.

Arch-rival Apple had claimed that Samsung was breaking its pledge to license its 3G patents on Fair, Reasonable and Discriminatory (FRAND) terms.

The two companies are currently engaged in various court cases around the world as part of an ongoing mobile patent war.

Samsung Antitrust

The FTC investigation will focus on whether Samsung is abusing its wireless patent portfolio. According to an official, Apple filed its complaints earlier this year, but Samsung has refuted its claims saying that at all times it has adhered to FRAND licensing terms to its standards-essential patents.

The European Union is also investigating Samsung for possible breaches of antitrust rules. It announced its probe in February, but claimed that it was the result of its own findings rather than from complaints made by Samsung’s competitors.

Apple won a vital battle in the patent war last month, when a US District Court ruled that Samsung had infringed the Cupertino-based company’s design and software patents. The Korean manufacturer was ordered to pay £664 million (1$bn) in compensation but will appeal.

Apple has also requested that eight Samsung smartphones are banned in the US as well as expanding its lawsuits to cover newer devices like the Samsung Galaxy S III.

Samsung was given a minor boost last week when a Japanese court rejected Apple’s claims for compensation after it claimed Samsung devices infringed one of its patents.

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