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Approximately 30 million individuals in the United Kingdom who bought an Apple Inc. or Samsung Electronics handset between the year 2015 and 2024 could be eligible to about seventeen pounds per claimant should a buyer campaign group wins in its case against the American tech giant Qualcomm Inc..

Trial Begins Today

The campaign is bringing the tech giant to the CAT in London now.

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

The organization is accusing the tech firm of restrictive behavior.

The group asserts that the corporation compelled Apple & Samsung to pay inflated prices and patent charges for essential handset components, which then increased the price of those devices for buyers.

The Details the Legal Action Will Decide

The case commencing on Monday will focus on whether Qualcomm held dominance and, if proven, whether it abused a dominant position.

In the event that the watchdog is successful in its claim, there will be a second stage requesting £480 million from Qualcomm, to be distributed among an projected twenty-nine million British consumers involved.

The body is claiming compensation for all affected Apple Inc. & Samsung mobile phones bought between the start of October 2015 and January 9, 2024.

The watchdog says this would almost certainly work out at approximately 17 pounds per person.

Earlier Cases and The Firm's Position

The company has in the past claimed the case has "no foundation".

A parallel case against the tech giant is in progress in the Canadian courts, and the firm has also previously been sanctioned by the EU for anti-competition violations.

The FTC in the United States filed a case against the corporation for anti-competitive behavior in the way it sold rights to its patents during the year 2017, but had its claim dismissed in the year 2020.

Importance of the Trial

The chief executive of the watchdog stated: "This trial is a huge moment. It shows how the power of the public - supported by the group - can be used to hold the biggest companies to be accountable when they abuse their leading role."

The firm is one of the largest global manufacturers of handset semiconductors and has encountered allegations about unfair practices before.

• Eligible smartphones include Apple & Samsung Electronics models purchased between October 2015 and 2024.
• The claimed amount being sought is 480 million pounds.
• Each compensation is estimated to be about 17 pounds.
• The legal action is proceeding at the CAT in the UK capital.