The European Commission announced on Tuesday that it has opened a formal investigation to decide whether Samsung’s use of standard-essential FRAND patents as leverage in high profile cases, such as the company’s worldwide battle with Apple, violates EU antitrust laws.
A press release from the European body’s headquarters in Brussels states:
The European Commission has opened a formal investigation to assess whether Samsung Electronics has abusively, and in contravention of a commitment it gave to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute (ETSI), used certain of its standard essential patent rights to distort competition in European mobile device markets, in breach of EU antitrust rules. The opening of proceedings means that the Commission will examine the case as a matter of priority.
Full Story: Apple Insider
