Qualcomm accuses Arm of monopoly: What happened and what to expect

Tensions between Qualcomm and Arm have escalated once again, this time reaching regulators in three major markets. While both companies have long collaborated under licensing agreements, their relationship took a major hit after Qualcomm acquired Nuvia, a startup developing processors based on Arm’s architecture. That acquisition led to legal disputes—and now, fresh antitrust accusations.

Qualcomm escalates with antitrust complaints

In December, Qualcomm won a lawsuit filed by Arm, which had accused Qualcomm of breaching license agreements by using Nuvia’s technology in new Snapdragon chips. But the situation turned more serious when Qualcomm filed complaints before the European Commission, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, and South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission. Qualcomm alleges that Arm is now trying to limit competitors’ access to key technologies and changing its licensing model in a way that could hurt the wider ARM ecosystem.

Arm’s new business model raises concerns

At the heart of the conflict is Arm’s shift in strategy. Arm plans to design and sell its own processors, potentially competing with its long-time clients. Qualcomm argues that these changes could undermine the open licensing structure that helped build a diverse and competitive tech market. The company fears that Arm may reserve critical innovations for its own products, leaving others at a disadvantage.

What’s next for Arm and Qualcomm?

Arm denies the accusations, claiming it remains committed to competition and innovation. But now, regulators across three continents are involved, and the outcome could reshape how ARM-based chips are developed and licensed in the future. For SoftBank, Arm’s parent company, these disputes threaten to derail its efforts to expand Arm’s revenue beyond licensing fees.