Samsung defended its attempt to back out of a disputed patent deal with Microsoft, citing antitrust concerns over the Redmond company’s purchase of Nokia’s smartphone business. At issue in the case are agreements that set out patent licensing fees for Samsung’s use of Android, as well as terms for the two companies to work together on making Windows Phone handsets.
Samsung said its collaboration with Microsoft on Windows phones raised antitrust problems once Microsoft completed its acquisition of Nokia’s handset business, according to a court filing. The filing late on Thursday stems from Microsoft Corp’s lawsuit accusing Samsung Electronics Co Ltd of breaching a business collaboration agreement. The lawsuit, filed earlier this year in a New York federal court, says South Korean smartphone company Samsung still owes $6.9 million in interest on more than $1 billion in patent royalties it delayed paying.