Qualcomm chipmaker US has been fined €242m (around $271m) by the EU after a nearly four-year antitrust investigation concluded the firm sold its 3G chips at below cost price to the detriment of rival supplier Icera. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said US's actions between 2009 and 2011 "prevented competition" and limited consumer choice. The company said it will appeal against the decision. Earlier this year, a Qualcomm judge ruled US's patents' royalty charges were "unreasonably high" and criticised the use of exclusivity discounts.
US chipmaker Qualcomm has been fined €242m (around $271m) by the EU after a nearly four-year antitrust investigation concluded the firm sold its 3G chips at below cost price to the detriment of rival supplier Icera. EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager said Qualcomm's actions between 2009 and 2011 "prevented competition" and limited consumer choice. The company said it will appeal against the decision. Earlier this year, a US judge ruled Qualcomm's patents' royalty charges were "unreasonably high" and criticised the use of exclusivity discounts.