US watchdog kills off four-year antitrust complaint against Qualcomm, still insists it was right anyway

The Federal Trade Commission has given up its antitrust lawsuit against Qualcomm although the US watchdog still claims the chip maker violated fair competition laws. Qualcomm was accused of forcing smartphone makers into unfair supply agreements, locking competitors out by withholding licences for its technology, and more in …

[DS999]

Probably because no one is willing to testify against them

Only their customers can detail the bad things they may have done, but they're all too afraid of retaliation to do so. Apple had cooperated with the FTC while they were fighting Qualcomm in court, but eventually they were forced to knuckle under and even a company Apple's size can't risk Qualcomm retaliating.

At least not until they have their own modem enabled across their entire product line, and they'd still have to worry about patent level retaliation even then.

[IGotOut]

So pretty much...

most of the world finds them guilty except their own country.

Hmmmm.

[Snake]

Re: So pretty much...

Oh no. We think they're guilty as hell, but as *usual* in the U.S. they (Qualcomm) has bought off their victims witnesses against them (see first commenter's reply). The DOJ statement pretty much says as much, read between the lines.

[jason_derp]

Pointless

If you just wanted to cost them money before you let them keep acting improperly just ask for a f*cking bribe. You'll save the taxpayers some money and provide some relief to the court system (that way parties naive enough to think they can change things can have their spirits broken quicker). Frustrating.

[Trollslayer]

Again?

Qualcomm hold the record for this behaviour.