Qualcomm has launched a global antitrust battle against its longtime partner, Arm Holdings, accusing the British chip designer of anti-competitive practices. The complaints have been filed with regulators in the U.S., Europe, and South Korea, alleging that Arm is restricting access to its technology to boost its own chip design business, thereby harming competition.

According to sources, Qualcomm has submitted confidential filings to the European Commission, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC), and the Korea Fair Trade Commission. Qualcomm argues that Arm's open licensing model has long fostered a thriving semiconductor ecosystem, but Arm is now limiting access to key technologies in pursuit of higher profits. The company contends that this shift threatens market competition and innovation.

Arm denies the allegations, stating that it remains committed to fostering innovation and fair competition. The company claims Qualcomm is attempting to divert attention from their ongoing commercial dispute and leverage regulatory pressure for its own gain.

This legal battle mirrors Qualcomm's recent victory over Arm in a Delaware court case. The court ruled that Qualcomm did not violate its licensing agreements by incorporating Nuvia's intellectual property into its Snapdragon X processors. Arm has indicated it will seek a retrial, while both companies are engaged in court-ordered mediation.

In addition to the Delaware ruling, Bloomberg reports that Qualcomm filed a competition complaint with EU regulators last December, accusing Arm of withholding key technology and limiting licensing. Qualcomm has also met with the FTC in Washington and raised similar concerns with South Korea's regulatory authorities.

As competition in the semiconductor industry intensifies, this dispute underscores a broader power struggle over licensing rights and control of chip technology—an area critical to mobile devices, AI systems, and cloud computing. The outcome of these legal and regulatory battles could shape the future of the semiconductor market for years to come.