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EU: Almunia announces plans to wrap-up Samsung patent case

By  |  February 9, 2014

As European Commissioner Joaquin Almunia wraps up competition cases in his final months at the regulator, reports say the Commission is set to settle its latest investigation into Samsung and alleged anticompetitive patent litigation.

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    After a two-year probe, reports say authorities have received new concessions from Samsung regarding the company’s practice of seeking injunctions against rival firms that infringe upon Samsung patents. Samsung had submitted a settlement offer late last year but Almunia announced last December that the proposal was insufficient.

    The Commission launched an investigation into the South Korean smartphone maker after it launched legal action against rival Apple in 2011; Samsung found Apple to have infringed on 3G technology intellectual property and sought an injunction to ban Apple iPhone sales in Europe.

    The Commission launched an investigation into the matter on the belief that Apple was willing to license those patents until FRAND terms.

    Almunia announced that the case will likely be resolved by April as Samsung has offered more concessions considered “good” but the regulator’s standards.

    Samsung had previously agreed to license its patents and discuss licensing fees with rivals, as well as to have a third-party arbitrator resolve any disagreements.

    Full Content: International Business Times

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