EU accepts Samsung offer on basic patents

The European Commission on Tuesday accepted commitments by South Korean electronics giant Samsung to allow competitors access to key basic patents, but rapped Google-owned Motorola for pursuing a case against Apple. Samsung's commitment not to seek injunctions in Europe against companies using its Standard Essential Patents for smartphones and tablet computers will be made legally binding, the Commission said. The Commission, the EU's executive arm, has been investigating Samsung for abusing its dominant market position in certain technologies after it took out injunctions against fierce rival Apple over use of its SEPs. If there are any future disputes about the use of such patents, they will be settled under the industry standard of Fair, Reasonable and non-Discriminatory (FRAND) practice, according to AFP.