Yes, using patents. They got lucky and a handful of their early patents became required parts of early cellular standards. Since then they've lobbied the stand

Yes, using patents. They got lucky and a handful of their early patents became required parts of early cellular standards. Since then they've lobbied the standards bodies to include features that require their newest patents. When that fails, because the mobile manufacturers are tired of Qualcomm's monopoly, they simply buy up more patents to make up the difference.