Qualcomm Case Intervention May Widen DOJ-FTC Antitrust Rift

The Justice Department’s intervention in the Federal Trade Commission’s case against chipmaker Qualcomm Inc. is an unusual move that could widen the rift between the government’s federal antitrust enforcers.

In a late night filing May 2, the DOJ urged U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh to avoid any drastic penalty against the San Diego-based company as it could stall innovation and hamper efforts to commercialize 5G, the next generation of wireless technologies. The DOJ asked for an evidentiary hearing if she finds Qualcomm’s chip licensing model violates antitrust law.

An intervention by the DOJ at the final stages of an ...