Qualcomm overturns 1bn EU fine

Date:
Thu, 16 Jun 2022 12:34:00 +0000

Description:
EU court overturns 2018 ruling that accused Qualcomm of paying Apple 'exclusivity' payments.

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Qualcomm has successfully appealed a 1 billion fine from the EU over allegations it paid billions of dollars to Apple to prevent rivals from supplying the company.

The EU imposed the punishment in January 2018, claiming Qualcomm made incentive payments over a five-year period between 2011 and 2016 so that only its 4G LTE chipsets would be used in the iPhone and iPad.

Investigators took the view that these incentive payments were tantamount to exclusivity payments that prevented the likes of Intel from competing for Apples business, damaging the market. Qualcomm battles

However, the General Court of the European Union has annulled that decision, citing issues with the EUs investigation.

The General Court bases its conclusions on, first, the finding of a number of procedural irregularities which affected Qualcomms rights of defence, and, second, an analysis of the anticompetitive effects of the incentive payments, the court ruled, adding investigators had failed to support that the payments had actually reduced Apples incentives to switch supplier. Read more

Qualcomm gets $4.5bn from Apple as revenues rise

Apple and Qualcomm share spoils in court ahead of major ruling

Qualcomm will appeal 242m EU fine

EU competition authorities can appeal on matters of law to the EU Court of Justice (CJEU), Europes highest court if it wishes to do so.

Ironically, Apple and Qualcomm have been engaged in legal action against each other in recent years. Qualcomm had frequently claimed Apple has violated its patents, while Apple said the Snapdragon chipmaker is abusing its dominant position in the market and charging extortionate fees.

Eventually the two firms settled their differences, with Apple agreeing to
pay royalties and entering into a new supply agreement.



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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/news/qualcomm-overturns-euro1bn-eu-fine/


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