The Korea Fair Trade Commission (FTC) announced on Thursday that South Korean regulators are investigating complaints filed by Apple Inc. that Samsung Electronics Co. is abusing its dominant position in wireless technology.
Rivals Apple and Samsung are locked in patent disputes in 10 countries, as they vie for market share in the booming mobile industry.
Apple won a landmark victory last month after a U.S. jury found the South Korean firm had copied key features of Apple’s iPhone, awarding Apple $1.05 billion in damages. The jury decided Apple had not violated any of Samsung’s patents.
The FTC investigation is covering whether or not Samsung is unfairly competing in the market by abusing its dominance in wireless technology patents. An FTC official, who is not authorized to talk to the media, said Apple filed its complaints earlier this year.
European Union regulators have also been investigating Samsung for any possible violations of antitrust rules by accusing rivals of infringing its tech patents.
Samsung made a pledge back in 1998 to license its 3G patents to the European Telecommunications Standards Institute on “fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory terms.” Samsung says it has met that obligation at all times.
Apple was not available for comment.
