Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

South Korea Finds Qualcomm Prevented Samsung From Selling Its Exynos Processors (digitaltrends.com)

Posted by BeauHD on from the iron-fist dept.

According to the South Korea Trade Commission (SKTC), Qualcomm prevented Samsung from selling its Exynos processors to various third-party phone manufacturers. "The Commission's report claims that Qualcomm abused its standard-essential patents -- which define technical standards like Wi-Fi and 4G -- to prevent Samsung from selling its modems, integrated processors, and other chips to smartphone makers like LG, Huawei, Xiaomi, and others," reports Digital Trends. "The Commission reportedly threatened to file suit against Samsung, which had agreed to license the patents for an undisclosed sum, if the South Korean electronics maker began competing against it in the mobile market." From the report: That bullying ran afoul of the South Korea Trade Commission's rules, which require that standard-essential patents be licensed on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) terms. "Samsung Electronics has been blocked from selling its modem chips to other smartphone manufacturers due to a license deal it signed with Qualcomm," the commissioners wrote. The report provides legal justification for the $853 million fine the SKTC placed on Qualcomm in December for "anti-competitive practices." Qualcomm intends to appeal. "[We] strongly disagree with the KFTC's announced decision, which Qualcomm believes is inconsistent with the facts and the law, reflects a flawed process, and represents a violation of due process rights owed American companies" under an applicable agreement between the U.S. and South Korea.

13 comments

  1. Government Regulators by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    "We at the SKTC find Qualcomm engaged in anti-competitive practices. We are therefore filing suit against Samsung."

    Makes sense.

    1. Re: Government Regulators by Entrope · · Score: 2

      Pretty clearly an editing error in the original, because the lawsuit was conditional on Samsung competing against "it", which would make no sense if "it" was the Commission rather than Qualcomm.

  2. A necessary condition for all patents? by fustakrakich · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Compulsory licensing.

    What the hell, we should apply it to copyright also

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
    1. Re:A necessary condition for all patents? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Compulsory licensing.

      What the hell, we should apply it to copyright also

      What?! We can't do that! Especially for music copyrights. If there was a standard, compulsory licensing scheme, there would be no music left; not a thriving parody and cover ecosystem!

      Captcha: excrete

  3. Qualcomm is not anybody's friend. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Interesting

    It's pretty clear Qualcomm is holding back the Android market. They're leveraging their IP holdings to suppress competitors.. While at the same time pushing products that don't feet the needs of the industry.

    There's a reason Samsung, Apple, and all of the major Chinese phone makers now in part or completely rely on in-house developed SoCs for their products. Being at Qualcomm's mercy awful.

    Qualcomm's also been stumbling on the 64bit transition. Their first 64 bit SoC was bad power hog.. And their new one dumps their in-house developed cores for ones designed by ARM themselves.. Which are slower, but more power efficient.

    1. Re: Qualcomm is not anybody's friend. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      "Their first 64 bit SoC was bad power hog.. And their new one dumps their in-house developed cores for ones designed by ARM themselves.. Which are slower, but more power efficient."

      That's backwards, their first 64bit part used ARM designed cores, including the power hog snapdragon 810, they switched to an in house design.

  4. SKTC? by Nutria · · Score: 1

    I thought they called themselves the ROK (making it ROKTC).

    --
    "I don't know, therefore Aliens" Wafflebox1
    1. Re:SKTC? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Rock the Casbah? Wait, is this a joke?

  5. So we drop our troops 100 miles south by Snotnose · · Score: 0

    Wait for Kim Jon Dumf to notice, and South Korea to notice he noticed, and re-negotiate that sucker.

    I mean, we voted for the Cheeto, this is exactly the style of diplomacy you'd expect from him.

    1. Re:So we drop our troops 100 miles south by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sorry, what did you just smoke?

  6. Just buy them by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Step 1) Trump changes the law so that Apple can repatriate their cash without losing half of it in taxes.
    Step 2) Hostile take over of Qualcomm.

  7. Now it makes sense by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Always wondered why nobody used Exynos when it clearly looks like good chips.