Acum un an de zile Comisia Europeana pornea o investigatie impotriva companiei Samsung, dorind sa afle daca producatorul coreean a incalcat legislatia europeana antitrust. La cererea companiei Apple, CE a verificat modul in care Samsung si-a utilizat brevetele FRAND in procese intentate americanilor, legislatia europeana interzicand acest lucru. Un an mai tarziu si cu o oferta facuta de catre coreeni pentru incetarea investigatiilor, comisarul european pentru concurenta, Joaquin Almunia, a afirmat ca propunerea Samsung nu este suficienta si ca una noua va trebui facuta.
Samsung Electronics Co Ltd will likely need to do more to settle an investigation over whether its use of patent lawsuits against Apple Inc breached EU rules, the EU antitrust chief said on Monday. World No. 1 smartphone maker Samsung said in September that it would not seek take competitors to court over patent disputes over the next five years. It also offered to discuss licensing fees with rivals over a one-year period and to let a court or an arbitrator decide on the issue in the event of disagreement. The European Commission subsequently sought feedback from competitors. European Competition Commissioner Joaquin Almunia suggested rivals were less than happy with Samsung’s offer.
Riscand aplicarea unei amenzi ce ar reprezenta 10% din veniturile sale pentru anul 2012, adica putin peste 18 miliarde de dolari, Samsung are tot interesul sa rezolve problema in mod “pasnic”. Desigur ca pentru a face acest lucru va fi nevoita sa plateasca o anumita suma de bani si probabil Apple va fi implicata intr-un mod sau altul in stabilirea sa. Samsung s-a folosit de brevetele sale FRAND pentru a ataca mai multi producatori de terminale mobile si desi nu a obtinut vreodata o victorie, a incercat necontenit sa isi sicaneze competitorii, fiind intr-un final obligata de catre CE sa renunte la tacticile ilegale, acum ramane de vazut cum va fi pedepsita.
