The EU competition watchdog is investigating whether Samsung broke EU competition rules by filing lawsuits over "standards essential" patents.
They cover technologies used in all mobile phones such as radio signalling standards and are regulated to ensure a fair market. Patent owners must license them to rivals on fair, reasonable and non-discriminatory basis.
"We will issue a statement of objections very soon," Almunia said, referring to the Commission's charge sheet.
The investigation into whether “Samsung has failed to honour its irrevocable commitment” to Frand terms, given in 1998, was prompted by a barrage patent infringement cases from the firm. It sued Apple over at least 13 patents related to 3G, for instance.
In apparent anticipation of Mr Almunia's interventon, on Tuesday Samsung said it was dropping an attempt to stop the sale of some Apple products in Britain, France, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands, though it did not say it would halt its court battle for compensation.
<From The Telegraph>
