US chipmaker Qualcomm is looking down the barrel of a daily fine of 580,000 euros (A$842,000) after losing an appeal against a penalty in a European Union court.

Qualcomm, which was charged by the European Commission with using anti-competitive methods to squeeze out British phone software maker Icera, last month asked the Luxembourg-based General Court to suspend the order.

The company said the EU competition authority’s demands entailed onerous work and financial costs pegged at no less than 3 million euros, as it involved more than 50 employees and 16 external advisers.

Court president Marc Jaeger dismissed the appeal.