The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) in China has said that it plans to conclude its 13-month inquiry into Qualcomm and its suspected overcharging shortly. The manufacturer of semiconductors is now said to be likely to undergo other investigations about its patent licences.
Pricing agreements
The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has already begun an inquiry. Thomas Cotter, professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, a patent expert, said: 'It's not an overstatement to say they're under attack. Nobody knows how it will play out but the fact that there is an FTC investigation tells you something.' Agreements that Qualcomm renegotiates in China, following the inquiry, could affect its pricing arrangements with both local companies and global players - including Samsung and Apple - which sell in China. Source: Legal Business Online
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