Qualcomm: FTC’s Case, 18% Stock Drop, and a Lawsuit — Did They Cross the Line?

Court: S.D. California

Case: 3:17-cv-00121

In 2017, a controversy emerged over Qualcomm’s alleged anticompetitive practices, which damaged its stock. Now, the company is paying to leave this chapter behind them. Here’s a recap of what happened—and the latest updates for investors.

Back in 2017, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) hit Qualcomm with a complaint, accusing the company of overcharging for licenses, refusing to sell chips to manufacturers that didn’t accept its terms, and offering Apple exclusive discounts in exchange for using its baseband processors.

These practices raised serious concerns about Qualcomm’s market dominance and sparked widespread scrutiny from regulators and the media.

Bloomberg and Engadget quickly picked up the story, highlighting how Qualcomm’s tactics violated its commitments to fair licensing and competitive business practices.

Soon, QCOM dropped more than 18%. And, just days later, investors filed a lawsuit.

Now, Qualcomm has agreed to settle $75M with investors over these claims. And they're accepting late claims from investors. So, if you held QCOM shares during this time, you can check the latest details and file your claim here.