Apple sues Qualcomm over technology fees

Apple Inc. has filed suit in China challenging Qualcomm Inc.’s fees for technology used in smartphones two years after Chinese regulators fined the chipmaker for its licensing practices.

Two lawsuits filed by the iPhone maker accuse Qualcomm of abusing its control over essential technology to charge excessive licensing fees, a Beijing court said on its microblog. It said Apple reports suffering 1 billion yuan (USD145 million) in “economic losses” and asks for 2.5 million yuan ($360,000).

Most of Apple’s iPhones and other products are assembled in China by contractors.

Apple filed a similar complaint on Jan. 21 in U.S. federal court in San Diego, California, accusing Qualcomm of demanding royalties for innovations on iPhones that have nothing to do with Qualcomm’s technology. The U.S. lawsuit seeks $1 billion in damages.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission also has filed a lawsuit accusing Qualcomm of imposing unfair licensing terms on manufacturers.

Qualcomm, headquartered in San Diego, said in a statement it had not seen Apple’s complaint to the Chinese court but defended its fees. The company said Apple rejected terms consistent with those accepted by more than 100 Chinese manufacturers.

Qualcomm agreed to change its licensing after Chinese regulators fined the company 6 billion yuan ($975 million) in 2015 on charges it abused its control over technology to charge excessive fees.

In a separate statement, Apple complained Qualcomm demands royalties for phone features that nothing to do with its technology.

“For many years Qualcomm has unfairly insisted on charging royalties for technologies they have nothing to do with,” said the Apple statement.

It also accused Qualcomm of withholding nearly $1 billion in payments due to Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, California, in retaliation for cooperating with investigations by regulators in the United States, Europe, South Korea and Taiwan.

Qualcomm said its fees were consistent with changes worked out with Chinese regulators.

“These filings by Apple’s Chinese subsidiary are just part of Apple’s efforts to find ways to pay less for Qualcomm’s technology,” said Don Rosenberg, executive vice president and general counsel of Qualcomm, in the statement.

South Korean regulators last month fined Qualcomm $853 million for violating antitrust laws, a decision Qualcomm is fighting.  AP