Apple and Samsung Owners Might Be Due for a Share of a £480 million Payment in the Britain
Nearly thirty million people in the UK who purchased an Apple Inc. or Samsung Electronics mobile phone between 2015 and the year 2024 may be eligible to about 17 pounds per person in the event that a buyer campaign group wins in its lawsuit against the American tech giant Qualcomm.
Court Case Commences Today
The advocacy organization is taking the tech giant to the CAT in London now.
The trial involving the advocacy organization and Qualcomm is projected to run for over a month.
The organization is alleging the chip company of restrictive behavior.
The allegation is that the firm compelled Apple & Samsung to pay excessive costs and licensing fees for essential handset components, which then raised the expense of those mobile phones for users.
Key Points the Trial Will Examine
The case commencing on Monday will look into whether Qualcomm had market power and, should that be the case, whether it misused a leading role.
In the event that the watchdog is successful, there will be a subsequent step seeking 480 million pounds from Qualcomm, to be divided between an approximate twenty-nine million British smartphone users involved.
The organization is pursuing restitution 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 £17 each.
Earlier Allegations and The Firm's Response
The company has earlier claimed the legal action has "no foundation".
A parallel case against the tech giant is ongoing in Canada, and the firm has also in the past been penalized by the EU for antitrust breaches.
The Federal Trade Commission in the America sued the corporation for unfair practices in the way it sold rights to its patents back in 2017, but had its claim thrown out in 2020.
Significance of the Legal Action
The head of the consumer group remarked: "This legal action is a significant event. It demonstrates how the power of the public - backed by us - can be used to require the biggest companies to account when they exploit their dominant position."
Qualcomm is one of the largest global manufacturers of smartphone chips and has encountered accusations about restrictive conduct before.
- Affected handsets include Apple & Samsung models bought between October 2015 and the start of 2024.
- The claimed amount demanded is £480 million.
- Per-person payment is projected to be approximately seventeen pounds.
- The case is being held at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London.
