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Nearly 30 million consumers in the UK who bought an Apple and/or Samsung Electronics handset from the year 2015 and 2024 may be eligible to about £17 per person if a consumer campaign group prevails in its case against the American corporation Qualcomm Inc..

Legal Action Commences This Week

The advocacy organization is escalating the tech giant to the specialized court in the UK capital this week.

The case between the advocacy organization and the chipmaker is expected to run for five weeks.

The organization is alleging the chip company of anti-competitive practices.

The allegation is that the firm compelled Apple & Samsung Electronics to pay inflated prices and patent charges for essential phone parts, which then increased the cost of those devices for users.

The Details the Legal Action Will Decide

The trial starting now will focus on whether the chipmaker possessed control and, if proven, whether it exploited a powerful stance.

If the consumer group is successful, there will be a second stage aiming to obtain 480 million pounds from the tech firm, to be divided between an approximate twenty-nine million UK smartphone users impacted.

The consumer group is pursuing restitution for all affected Apple & Samsung Electronics handsets acquired between 1 October 2015 and early January 2024.

The watchdog says this would almost certainly work out at approximately seventeen pounds per person.

Previous Legal Challenges and The Firm's Response

Qualcomm has previously claimed the legal action has "no foundation".

A comparable claim against Qualcomm is in progress in the Canadian courts, and the firm has also previously been penalized by the European Union for antitrust violations.

The Federal Trade Commission in the America filed a case against the corporation for restrictive tactics in the way it licensed its patents during 2017, but had its case rejected in 2020.

Impact of the Trial

The CEO of the watchdog commented: "This trial is a significant event. It demonstrates how the collective strength of consumers - backed by our organization - can be used to require the biggest companies to account should they misuse their dominant position."

Qualcomm is one of the leading suppliers of mobile processors and has been subject to allegations about anti-competitive behaviour previously.

• Qualifying devices include Apple & Samsung phones bought between October 2015 and the start of 2024.
• The overall compensation requested is 480 million pounds.
• Each payout is estimated to be around £17.
• The case is being held at the specialist court in London.