Qualcomm's Appeal Rejected: EU Court Upholds Antitrust Fine with Minor Adjustment

Qualcomm's attempt to overturn a European Union antitrust penalty was largely unsuccessful. On Wednesday, the EU's General Court dismissed most of Qualcomm's appeal against a 242 million euro fine. This penalty was imposed in 2019 for alleged "predatory pricing" in the cellphone chipset market.

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The European Commission, which enforces antitrust laws for the 27-member bloc, accused Qualcomm of abusing its dominance in 3G baseband chipsets. The company was said to have sold these chipsets below production cost to eliminate startup Icera from the market about ten years ago.

EU Antitrust Fine Reduced

After reviewing Qualcomm's arguments, the court rejected them entirely, except for one. Qualcomm argued that the commission did not adhere to guidelines when calculating the fine. As a result, the court reduced the penalty slightly to 238.7 million euros.

Qualcomm expressed disagreement with both the judgment and the European Commission's decision. The company stated, "We have always remained in compliance with European competition law."

Previous Antitrust Case

In another case, Qualcomm faced a $1.23 billion fine from the European Commission. This was due to allegations of bribing Apple to suppress competition. However, after an appeal, the General Court overturned this decision in 2022.

The recent ruling highlights ongoing scrutiny of Qualcomm's business practices within Europe. The company's legal challenges reflect its continued efforts to contest regulatory decisions affecting its operations.

The case underscores the EU's commitment to enforcing antitrust regulations and maintaining fair competition in technology markets. Qualcomm's legal battles illustrate the complexities involved in navigating these regulations.