Broadcom controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
Back to profile8 entries
2026
CISPE complaint concerning VMware licensing
CISPE asked the European Commission to examine Broadcom's VMware licensing and cloud-service-provider programme, alleging increased prices, bundling, and restrictive commercial terms. Broadcom disputed the allegations. The Commission's assessment was reported as ongoing.
2021
U.S. Federal Trade Commission antitrust settlement
The FTC alleged that Broadcom used restrictive contract provisions and threats of retaliation to preserve monopoly power. The settlement required the company to stop specified contracting practices and avoid certain exclusivity arrangements.
2021
Broadcom agrees to FTC settlement in monopoly case
Settlement
Broadcom agreed to a settlement with the US Federal Trade Commission in a case involving alleged monopoly practices. The article says the settlement requires changes to Broadcom's sales tactics and that the company will cease the challenged practices.
Source excerpt
According to the FTC, Broadcom has engaged in unfair business practices which keep out competitor products in OEM equipment and punishes companies that do not remain wholly loyal to Broadcom.
Broadcom has recently been sued by the FTC over monopoly charges and agreed to a settlement promising to change its sales tactics.
As a result, Broadcom decided that it would be simpler to settle the case outside of court instead of fighting an uphill battle against the FTC and will now cease from its current business practices.
2020
IFT files patent infringement lawsuit against SMIC, Broadcom, Cypress Semiconductor, and DISH Network
Lawsuit filed
Innovative Foundry Technologies (IFT) announced that it filed a patent infringement lawsuit against SMIC, Broadcom, Cypress Semiconductor, and DISH Network in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas. IFT accused the defendants of infringing four of its patents; the allegations are not presented as a court determination.
Source excerpt
The new infringement suit was brought in the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas (C.A. No.: 6:19-cv-719). The defendants are accused of infringing four of IFT's patents:
2020
Court orders Apple and Broadcom to pay Caltech $1.1 billion in patent damages
Ruling
In a patent dispute involving Caltech, a California court ordered Apple and Broadcom to pay a collective $1.1 billion in damages for patent infringement. Apple and Broadcom denied infringement and said they would appeal the verdict. The ruling was reported on January 30, 2020.
Company response
Denial — Apple Inc.
Apple and Broadcom did confirm that they will appeal the verdict, denying the infringement of the patents at all.
Denial — Broadcom Inc.
Apple and Broadcom did confirm that they will appeal the verdict, denying the infringement of the patents at all.
Source excerpt
In this year’s biggest jury verdict from this year, Apple Inc. and Broadcom Inc. have been ordered by a California Court to pay a collective $1.1 billion in damages for patent infringement.
Apple and Broadcom did confirm that they will appeal the verdict, denying the infringement of the patents at all.
Both Apple and Broadcom indicated they planned to appeal the verdict, AFP reported.
2020
EU accepts Broadcom settlement in antitrust case
Settlement
The European Commission accepted a settlement from Broadcom in an antitrust investigation into alleged uncompetitive sales practices involving TV and modem chipsets. The Commission had accused Broadcom of practices including exclusive purchasing requirements, rebates, bundling, and undermining interoperability.
Source excerpt
The EU's powerful anti-trust authority on Wednesday accepted a settlement from US chipmaker Broadcom, which Brussels had accused of uncompetitive sales practices.
The investigation of Broadcom was focused on the company's highly popular TV and modem chipsets, devices that offer television and internet access to customers at home or work.
The commission also accused Broadcom of bundling products or deliberately undermining the "interoperability" between Broadcom products and other products.
2020
Broadcom sues Netflix over alleged patent infringement
Lawsuit filed
Broadcom filed a lawsuit against Netflix alleging that Netflix infringed eight patents related to video playback and data transmission. Broadcom also claimed Netflix's use of the technology harmed its ability to sell set-top-box semiconductor chips.
Source excerpt
Netflix is being sued by Broadcom after the manufacturer of semiconductor chips for set-top boxes filed a lawsuit on March 13 in Los Angeles, which was originally reported by Variety. The lawsuit alleges that Netflix has infringed on eight patents that have ultimately contributed to the rise of cord-cutting.
The eight patents Broadcom cited in the lawsuit deal with video playback and data transmission. Broadcom claims that the patents “cover foundational technologies that are essential to various aspects of Netflix’s video streaming service, and the systems that Netflix uses to support this service.”
March 17, 2020
2019
European Union interim antitrust order
The European Commission imposed interim measures requiring Broadcom to suspend certain alleged anticompetitive practices in chipset-related agreements while its competition investigation proceeded.