Qualcomm's lawyer figures the Korean case may take years to move through the courts. And recent events, including the impeachment of South Korea's president and a bribery scandal at Samsung, could complicate, or eliminate, Qualcomm's regulatory issues there. Additionally, the F.T.C. has just three of its normal five commissioners. One of those, Maureen Ohlhausen, a Republican, voted against the suit. She may be named chairwoman when the current chairwoman, Edith Ramirez, a Democrat, steps down on Feb. 10. Neither the F.T.C. nor Apple would comment on the United States case against Qualcomm.