Apple Inc. & Samsung Users Might Be Eligible for a Portion of a £480m Compensation in the United Kingdom

Nearly 30 million people in the UK who acquired an Apple Inc. or Samsung mobile phone between the year 2015 to 2024 could be eligible to about 17 pounds each if a customer advocacy organization wins in its case against the US corporation Qualcomm Inc..

Legal Action Starts On Monday

The advocacy organization is escalating the tech giant to the Competition Appeal Tribunal in the UK capital starting Monday.

The trial involving the consumer group and the chipmaker is anticipated to run for around 35 days.

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

The allegation is that the company pressured Apple Inc. & Samsung Electronics to pay high fees and licensing fees for critical handset components, which then increased the price of those smartphones for buyers.

What the Case Will Examine

The legal proceedings starting on Monday will examine whether the chipmaker held control and, if so, whether it misused a powerful stance.

In the event that the watchdog is successful in its claim, there will be a second stage aiming to obtain 480 million pounds from the tech firm, to be allocated to an estimated 29 million British consumers involved.

The consumer group is claiming compensation for all eligible Apple & Samsung mobile phones bought between 1 October 2015 and early January 2024.

The organization states this would probably work out at around £17 per individual.

Earlier Cases and Qualcomm's Response

The company has in the past stated the case has "no basis".

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

The FTC in the America took legal action against the company for anti-competitive behavior in the way it authorized use of its technology back in the year 2017, but had its case dismissed in the year 2020.

Impact of the Case

The head of the consumer group remarked: "This trial is a major milestone. It illustrates how the influence of the public - represented by us - can be used to require the biggest companies to be accountable if they exploit their market power."

The firm is one of the leading manufacturers of mobile processors and has encountered allegations about unfair practices before.

• Affected handsets include Apple and Samsung products bought between 2015 and 2024.
• The claimed amount requested is 480 million pounds.
• Individual payment is projected to be around 17 pounds.
• The legal action is proceeding at the CAT in the UK capital.