This is an interesting turn of events, the patent disputes between Samsung and Apple have often felt like the only one really loosing is the consumer. It seems that the European Union’s Competition Commission is investigating the companies’ various disputes out of a growing worry that the war could be stifling competition in the mobile market.
The agency’s commissioner, Joaquin Almunia, has request information about the patents in question from both companies, though he has yet to receive a reply. Almunia was careful to point out that this is hardly the only example of a potential abuse of intellectual property rights to distort the market.
If the commission chooses to pursue legal action both Samsung and Apple could be fined up to 10 percent of their annual revenue. I hope that Almunia doesn’t have to wait long for what he needs, it would be nice to actual competition in stead of community design arguments that clearly stifle innovation.
Via Engadget, All Things D 
Reuters
