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Close to thirty million consumers in the UK who bought an Apple Inc. or Samsung Electronics handset from the year 2015 and the year 2024 could be entitled to approximately 17 pounds per person should a consumer advocacy organization wins in its legal action against the US technology firm Qualcomm Inc..

Court Case Starts On Monday

The campaign is bringing the technology corporation to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in the UK capital now.

The trial involving the advocacy organization and the chipmaker is anticipated to last five weeks.

The group is accusing the semiconductor firm of anti-competitive practices.

The group asserts that the firm pressured Apple & Samsung Electronics to pay high fees and royalty payments for necessary handset components, which then increased the expense of those mobile phones for consumers.

What the Legal Action Will Examine

The case commencing this week will examine whether the chipmaker held dominance and, if proven, whether it exploited a leading role.

In the event that the watchdog is victorious, there will be a follow-up phase requesting 480 million pounds from the tech firm, to be allocated to an approximate 29 million British consumers affected.

The organization is seeking damages for all impacted Apple and Samsung handsets bought between 1 October 2015 and January 9, 2024.

The organization states this would probably amount at approximately £17 per person.

Past Legal Challenges and Qualcomm's Position

The chipmaker has in the past stated the claim has "little merit".

A comparable case against the tech giant is currently underway in Canada, and the firm has also previously been penalized by the European Union for anti-competitive violations.

The FTC in the United States took legal action against the firm for restrictive tactics in the way it authorized use of its patents back in 2017, but had its legal action rejected in the year 2020.

Impact of the Legal Action

The CEO of the consumer group remarked: "This legal action is a huge moment. It shows how the collective strength of the public - supported by the group - can be used to make the major firms to account when they abuse their dominant position."

Qualcomm is one of the largest global suppliers of smartphone chips and has been subject to allegations about unfair practices previously.

• Affected devices include Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics products purchased between 2015 and the start of 2024.
• The claimed amount requested is £480 million.
• Individual payout is estimated to be about seventeen pounds.
• The trial is taking place at the CAT in the UK capital.