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Close to thirty million people in the United Kingdom who acquired an Apple Inc. or Samsung mobile phone between 2015 to 2024 might be able to around £17 per claimant in the event that a customer watchdog wins in its legal action against the American technology firm Qualcomm.

Legal Action Starts Today

The consumer group is escalating the firm to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in the UK capital this week.

The legal proceedings involving the watchdog and the chipmaker is anticipated to last over a month.

The organization is alleging the chip company of restrictive behavior.

It claims that the firm forced Apple Inc. and Samsung to pay excessive costs and patent charges for essential handset components, which then increased the expense of those mobile phones for consumers.

The Details the Trial Will Determine

The trial beginning now will look into whether the chipmaker had control and, if proven, whether it abused a leading role.

If the advocacy organization is successful, there will be a second stage seeking £480 million from the tech firm, to be divided between an estimated twenty-nine million British smartphone users affected.

The consumer group is claiming compensation for all affected Apple Inc. and Samsung mobile phones acquired between 1 October 2015 and January 9, 2024.

The watchdog states this would probably amount at approximately seventeen pounds per person.

Earlier Legal Challenges and The Firm's Statement

The chipmaker has in the past stated the legal action has "no basis".

A similar case against Qualcomm is ongoing in Canada, and the firm has also earlier been sanctioned by the European Union for anti-competition breaches.

The Federal Trade Commission in the United States took legal action against the company for restrictive tactics in the way it sold rights to its technology back in the year 2017, but had its claim thrown out in the year 2020.

Importance of the Legal Action

The CEO of the organization commented: "This legal action is a significant event. It shows how the influence of the public - represented by us - can be used to require the largest corporations to answer when they abuse their dominant position."

The chipmaker is one of the leading manufacturers of smartphone chips and has been subject to accusations about anti-competitive behaviour previously.

• Eligible handsets include Apple Inc. and Samsung products purchased between October 2015 and the start of 2024.
• The claimed amount requested is 480 million pounds.
• Each payout is expected to be approximately seventeen pounds.
• The legal action is being held at the CAT in the UK capital.