European watchdog presses Samsung over patents litigation

Europe’s antitrust watchdog has indicated that Samsung may need to offer improved remedies to settle an investigation into the Korean technology group’s alleged use of patent litigation to protect its dominance in the mobile phone market.

Joaquín Almunia, the European competition commissioner, said he would take into account feedback from rivals “when we discuss with Samsung possible improvements to their commitments in the coming weeks.” The European competition authority has been “market testing” the offer made by Samsung to address concerns about the way it uses patent litigation. The Korean group has said it would not take legal action against companies willing to have the dispute settled by a court or arbitrator.