🔗 Share this article

Approximately thirty million people in the UK who purchased an Apple Inc. or Samsung handset between 2015 to 2024 could be eligible to about seventeen pounds per person if a consumer campaign group is successful in its case against the US tech giant Qualcomm.

Court Case Starts Today

The campaign is taking the technology corporation to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London starting Monday.

The legal proceedings between the consumer group and Qualcomm is anticipated to last around 35 days.

The group is claiming the semiconductor firm of unfair competition.

The group asserts that the corporation compelled Apple Inc. & Samsung Electronics to pay excessive costs and royalty payments for essential mobile hardware, which then increased the price of those mobile phones for users.

Key Points the Case Will Examine

The case beginning this week will look into whether Qualcomm had control and, should that be the case, whether it exploited a dominant position.

If the advocacy organization is victorious, there will be a follow-up phase requesting £480m from the tech firm, to be allocated to an estimated 29 million UK smartphone users impacted.

The body is seeking damages for all impacted Apple & Samsung Electronics mobile phones acquired between October 1, 2015 and 9 January 2024.

The watchdog states this would likely amount at around seventeen pounds per person.

Previous Cases and Qualcomm's Statement

The chipmaker has in the past stated the case has "no foundation".

A comparable case against the tech giant is ongoing in the Canadian courts, and the corporation has also earlier been fined by the European Union for anti-competition breaches.

The US regulator in the America took legal action against the firm for anti-competitive behavior in the way it authorized use of its innovations during the year 2017, but had its claim dismissed in 2020.

Importance of the Case

The head of the watchdog commented: "This case is a huge moment. It demonstrates how the influence of buyers - supported by us - can be used to make the largest corporations to account when they exploit their dominant position."

The chipmaker is one of the world's biggest suppliers of mobile processors and has encountered claims about restrictive conduct before.

• Eligible devices include Apple & Samsung products bought between October 2015 and January 2024.
• The overall compensation being sought is £480m.
• Each payout is expected to be around £17.
• The case is proceeding at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London.