EU seeks public comment on Samsung anti-trust remedies

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - The European Commission called a public review on the remedies offered by South Korean electronics company Samsung concerning allegations it has abused its dominant market position in its fight with Apple.

18 Oct 2013

EU headquarters in Brussels. Image: Wiki Images

The Commission, the EU's executive arm, has charged Samsung with lodging unfair legal injunctions against Apple over the US company's use of Standard Essential Patents (SEPs), key patents across high-technology industries.

Samsung has claimed that some of the SEPs used by Apple in its mobile phones are its intellectual property and so took its rival to court.

The Commission launched an investigation into anti-competitive practices last year, judging in December that Samsung was at fault.

"Samsung has since offered to abstain from seeking injunctions for mobile SEPs for a period of five years against any company that agrees to a particular licensing framework," the Commission said in a statement.

"Interested parties can now submit their comments within one month," it said.

"If the response Samsung's remedies are positive, the Commission will then make them legally binding on the company," it added.

"Enforcing patents through injunctions can be perfectly legitimate," EU Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia said in the statement.

However, he said abuse of SEP rights must be prevented so that the standard-setting works uniformly and consumers do not have to suffer negative consequences.

"If we reach a good solution in this case, it will bring clarity to the industry," Almunia said.

Apple and Samsung have filed lawsuits against each other in about a dozen countries for alleged patent violations over competing products, in particular the iPhone and Galaxy S smartphones, as well as tablet computers.

Source: AFP via I-Net Bridge

Source: I-Net Bridge

For more than two decades, I-Net Bridge has been one of South Africa’s preferred electronic providers of innovative solutions, data of the highest calibre, reliable platforms and excellent supporting systems. Our products include workstations, web applications and data feeds packaged with in-depth news and powerful analytical tools empowering clients to make meaningful decisions.

We pride ourselves on our wide variety of in-house skills, encompassing multiple platforms and applications. These skills enable us to not only function as a first class facility, but also design, implement and support all our client needs at a level that confirms I-Net Bridge a leader in its field.

Go to: http://www.inet.co.za