The United States suspects Arm of anticompetitive conduct.

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has opened an investigation against Arm Holdings

* Who: The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
* What: An antitrust review of Arm’s technology licensing model
* Where: Globally, but focused on the U.S. market

What exactly is being examined
1. Potential signs of monopoly – The FTC wants to find out whether Arm uses its dominant position to restrict access to processor technologies.
2. Licensing refusals and changes in terms – The regulator will look at whether Arm has refused to grant licenses or tightened conditions that could harm competition.

Arm earns most of its revenue from licensing fees and royalties from giants such as Nvidia and Apple.

Why this matters
* Global interest – The question of Arm’s licensing has attracted attention not only in the U.S. but also in South Korea.
* At the end of last year, South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) launched its own investigation, during which it searched Arm offices in Seoul.
* Competitive disputes – Qualcomm filed a complaint against Arm with the KFTC and the European Commission in 2024, accusing the company of restricting access to licenses and hiding key technologies.

Arm’s reaction
Arm did not comment on Bloomberg’s report about the FTC investigation. Instead, the company stated:

> “Qualcomm’s accusations of anti‑competitive behavior are baseless and represent a malicious attempt to gain influence in the ongoing commercial dispute between the parties.”

Possible consequences
* Fines – If the FTC confirms abuse of dominance, Arm could face large penalties.
* Changes to the licensing model – The regulator may require disclosure of certain technological standards or restructuring of patent royalty rates.
* Impact on business – This will affect chip design costs and Arm’s joint development plans with Nvidia, Qualcomm, and MediaTek.

Thus, the FTC investigation could become a turning point for Arm Holdings, determining the future of its licensing strategy and relationships with key partners.