Apple Sues Qualcomm For $1 Billion, Alleging Extortion

Megalith

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What is it like to get sued by three major entities within a month’s time? Ask Qualcomm, as Apple has just joined the FTC and the Korea Fair Trade Commission in taking the telecommunications company to court for its sly patent-licensing practices. The fruit company’s lawyers accuse Qualcomm of charging royalties for new, innovative technologies they did not develop, resulting in payments amounting to five times more than what other licensors get. I suppose the lesson here is that if you’re trying to create a monopoly, try to be discrete about it.

Apple sued Qualcomm today, alleging that the chip company charges billions in patent royalties "for technologies they have nothing to do with." In its complaint, Apple says that Qualcomm actually withheld $1 billion in payments it owes to Apple because Apple cooperated with the Korea Fair Trade Commission, or KFTC. Apple lawyers go on to make an extraordinary claim: that Qualcomm "attempted to extort Apple into changing its responses and providing false information to the KFTC in exchange for Qualcomm's release of those payments to Apple," but Apple refused. Apple's lawsuit seeks unspecified damages while stating it has been "overcharged billions" by Qualcomm.
 
I guess if you're a big enough target you can get extorted, allegedly. Apple sure is big and is likely seen as a cash cow to manipulate much like Gates did when he sold IBM on msdos
 
charging royalties for new, innovative technologies they did not develop

Yeah, didn't they know that Apple already has a patent on patenting stuff they didn't develop?
 
Qualcomm responds to Apple’s $1 billion lawsuit, says claims are baseless and Apple ‘misrepresented facts’

Qualcomm is rejecting Apple’s claims of misconduct and will fight the case. In a statement, it said the claims are baseless and Apple has ‘intentionally mischaracterized our agreements and negotiations’. Although full details about what has happened are yet to come to light, Apple is arguing that Qualcomm is charging royalties on technologies they do not have a claim to own, and barred Apple from sourcing certain phone parts from other suppliers. It also alleged that Qualcomm held an almost $1 billion payment as ransom in a legal investigation.
 
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