European Commission not pleased with Samsung’s patent settlement concessions

Samsung is willing to go for five years without suing competitors in Europe, to discuss licensing fees with rivals for a year, and to allow an arbitrator appointed by the European Commission to decide on them in case an agreement isn’t reached. But that may not be enough for the Commission, Reuters reported. Apparently, Samsung rivals in the region are not happy with the company’s concessions. “We will take account of the feedback when we discuss with Samsung possible improvements to their commitments in the coming weeks,” European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said at a patent conference organized by Premier Cercle.


Of Samsung’s competitors, Apple is the company’s chief rival, with the two giants competing over mobile profits and market share in multiple markets. The two companies are also engaged in a complex mobile-related worldwide patent battle that’s also fought in various countries members of the European Union, with the iPhone maker winning more favorable verdicts than Samsung so far. The Commission took an interest in Samsung’s patent attacks at Apple in early 2012, when it decided to look into the company’s licensing practices related to standard essential mobile patents.
Samsung faces a fine of up to $18.3 billion or 10% of 2012 revenue in the event that it fails to address the Commission’s concerns.

Source: Reuters