Apple Inc. and Samsung Users Could Be Due for a Portion of a £480 million Compensation in the UK

Approximately thirty million people in the Britain who purchased an Apple Inc. and/or Samsung mobile phone between the year 2015 to the year 2024 could be eligible to about 17 pounds each should a buyer campaign group wins in its case against the US corporation Qualcomm.

Court Case Starts This Week

The consumer group is taking the tech giant to the specialized court in the UK capital now.

The legal proceedings involving the advocacy organization and Qualcomm is projected to run for around 35 days.

The organization is alleging the chip company of restrictive behavior.

The allegation is that the firm pressured Apple and Samsung Electronics to pay high fees and licensing fees for essential handset components, which then pushed up the expense of those mobile phones for buyers.

What the Trial Will Decide

The case commencing this week will examine whether Qualcomm possessed control and, if proven, whether it misused a leading role.

In the event that the consumer group is successful, there will be a second stage seeking £480m from Qualcomm, to be divided between an projected 29 million British consumers impacted.

The consumer group is seeking damages for all eligible Apple Inc. & Samsung handsets purchased between the start of October 2015 and 9 January 2024.

The organization says this would likely work out at around seventeen pounds per individual.

Earlier Legal Challenges and Qualcomm's Statement

The company has earlier said the case has "little merit".

A comparable case against Qualcomm is in progress in Canada, and the company has also previously been fined by the EU for antitrust violations.

The FTC in the US sued the corporation for restrictive tactics in the way it licensed its technology back in 2017, but had its claim dismissed in 2020.

Significance of the Trial

The CEO of the watchdog stated: "This legal action is a significant event. It illustrates how the influence of consumers - represented by the group - can be used to require the major firms to be accountable should they exploit their dominant position."

Qualcomm is one of the largest global manufacturers of handset semiconductors and has been subject to claims about unfair practices in the past.

• Affected devices include Apple and Samsung phones acquired between the end of 2015 and the start of 2024.
• The claimed amount demanded is 480 million pounds.
• Per-person payout is estimated to be about £17.
• The legal action is taking place at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in the UK capital.