Intel has accused Qualcomm of creating a monopoly for itself and not licensing “standard-essential” patents at a fair rate as required by law. The statement, filed with the US International Trade Commission (ITC) comes in response to Qualcomm’s suit against Apple alleging that the iPhone maker was infringing on six patents that aided iPhone battery life.
Qualcomm also requested a ban on imports and sale of some models iPhone in the US. Earlier in April, Apple stopped paying iPhone royalties to Qualcomm. In its statement filed this week, Intel writes that Qualcomm’s request “is a transparent effort to stave off lawful competition from Qualcomm’s only remaining rival. The company accused Qualcomm of further anti-competitive practices like offering Apple lower licensing fees for using its chips exclusively.
Intel said in a statement to ITC,
This twisted use of the Commission’s process is just the latest in a long line of anticompetitive strategies that Qualcomm has used to quash incipient and potential competitors and avoid competition on the merits,” And although those strategies have sometimes been subtle or complex, Qualcomm’s latest complaint could not be more blatant in its anticompetitive aims.