The European Commission says it has launched investigations on whether Samsung Electronics misused its mobile communication patent rights against Apple.

The commission is focusing on lawsuits Samsung filed against Apple in various countries over 3G mobile technology as part of efforts to determine whether the Korean firm violated antitrust regulations by allegedly abusing its mobile communication patent rights against Apple.

A European Commission official said the commission has requested Samsung submit more related materials, and it notified fair transaction authorities of European countries of the body's move to launch the probe.

The commission’s move follows Apple's statement last October in a document submitted to a U.S. district court that the 3G technology patents Samsung claims Apple violated are licensed under FRAND accords, which provide for “fair, reasonable and nondiscriminatory” use of patents concerning 3G mobile technology.