Economics

Judge's Conundrum: Is Qualcomm a Monopolist, or Merely a Bully?

  • FTC says Qualcomm harms competition by imposing onerous terms
  • Top chipmaker for mobile phones says it’s the best innovator
Photographer: Qilai Shen/Bloomberg
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Qualcomm Inc. could be the most prolific technology innovator of the mobile era. Or it could be a master of anti-competitive practices, thwarting rivals’ development while snatching up profits at the expense of its customers’ margins.

Maybe it’s both.