FTC Hasn’t ‘Come Close’ to Proving Mobile Chip Monopoly, Qualcomm Says

The FTC hasn’t “come close to meeting its burden” in proving Qualcomm has a mobile chip monopoly (see 1811060021), the company said Wednesday, the day after closing argument in California federal court. “Real-world” evidence offered at trial shows how the chipmaker's “years of R&D and innovation fostered competition, and growth for the entire mobile economy,” benefiting consumers worldwide, said Qualcomm General Counsel Don Rosenberg. The FTC, with Apple and Intel support, in mid-January argued Qualcomm blocked competitors from entering the market by charging exorbitant royalty rates, resulting in higher phone prices for consumers. The agency didn’t comment Wednesday.