Overview

The European Commission has asked two leading global software companies for information about their patent licensing agreements in order to establish if there has been any anti-competitive behaviour. The key issue relates to 'standards' - agreed technical specifications to ensure that a single technology is used across an industry, often with the goal of achieving interoperability of products regardless of the manufacturer.

The Commission is responsible for investigating competition-restricting agreements and abuse of dominant market position under the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.

In legal filings submitted in the US, Apple said that legal action taken by Samsung around the world sought to prevent it using patents Samsung owned. Apple has also recently sued Samsung over the "blatant copying" of its iPad design in the rival's Galaxy Tab 10.1 computer.

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