Apple takes patent row to anti-trust watchdog

Apple Inc. has taken its patent row with Samsung Electronics Co. to South Korea's anti-trust watchdog by accusing the top smartphone maker of abusing its dominant market position, sources said Thursday.

Since April 2011, the two top smartphone giants have been embroiled in a high-stakes battle across four continents to conquer the $219 billion global smartphone market.

Apple has filed a complaint against Samsung with the Fair Trade Commission for abusing its superior position over third-generation (3G) telecommunications technology, according to the sources.

The FTC is expected to review Apple's argument by comparing the two companies' market share and the influence of the 3G technology.

Samsung's explanation over the charges is also likely to be taken into account.

"Samsung is aware of the move," said company spokesman Lee Seung-joon, without further elaborating. Apple spokesman Steve Park also declined to provide immediate comments.

The case filed with the FTC is part of Apple's drive to sue the company for abusing its market dominance over wireless patents. In January, the European Commission said it has launched a formal investigation into whether Samsung has used wireless patents as an anti-competitive tool.

In the patent row, Apple has been emphasizing its design and user experience (UX) technology, while Samsung has countered with its telecommunications patents. In an Aug. 24 ruling, a U.S. federal jury rejected Samsung's claims while concluding the South Korean firm infringed the iPhone maker's design and UX patents.

(Yonhap News)