FTC Drops Qualcomm Competition Case

The US Federal Trade Commission dropped a patent licensing case against Qualcomm. The FTC cited headwinds for declining to seek a Supreme Court review of a previous decision in the chipmaker’s favour.

Acting FTC chair Rebecca Slaughter explained in a statement that the regulator would not continue to pursue the matter despite a previous district court decision going its way by ruling Qualcomm’s patent licensing practices breached US competition laws. Slaughter cautioned a later appeals court move overturning the outcome was a cause for concern regarding the potential for anti-competitive or unfair behaviour and said the FTC would closely monitor the situation moving forward.

Qualcomm general counsel Don Rosenberg said the company was pleased to see the case finally ended. A Supreme Court action was the only route left open to the FTC after a panel of judges in late 2020 declined to re-examine the appeals court ruling overturning the district court assertion regarding Qualcomm’s approach to patent licensing.