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Nearly thirty million consumers in the Britain who acquired an Apple Inc. or Samsung smartphone between 2015 to 2024 could be able to about £17 each in the event that a consumer advocacy organization is successful in its case against the American corporation Qualcomm Inc..

Court Case Starts Today

The consumer group is bringing the firm to the specialized court in the UK capital starting Monday.

The trial between the watchdog and the chipmaker is projected to continue for around 35 days.

The body is accusing the tech firm of anti-competitive practices.

The group asserts that the company compelled Apple & Samsung to pay inflated prices and royalty payments for critical handset components, which then pushed up the cost of those mobile phones for users.

What the Trial Will Determine

The legal proceedings commencing on Monday will look into whether Qualcomm held control and, should that be the case, whether it exploited a leading role.

In the event that the consumer group is victorious, there will be a follow-up phase seeking £480 million from Qualcomm, to be divided between an approximate 29 million UK smartphone users involved.

The body is claiming compensation for all eligible Apple and Samsung mobile phones purchased between October 1, 2015 and early January 2024.

The group estimates this would probably amount at about seventeen pounds per individual.

Earlier Cases and Qualcomm's Position

Qualcomm has previously claimed the legal action has "little merit".

A parallel claim against Qualcomm is currently underway in Canada, and the firm has also in the past been fined by the European Union for anti-competitive practices.

The US regulator in the America sued the corporation for restrictive tactics in the way it licensed its technology back in the year 2017, but had its claim dismissed in the year 2020.

Impact of the Case

The CEO of the watchdog remarked: "This case is a significant event. It illustrates how the power of consumers - supported by our organization - can be used to make the biggest companies to answer should they abuse their leading role."

The chipmaker is one of the world's biggest producers of mobile processors and has encountered accusations about restrictive conduct previously.

• Eligible handsets include Apple and Samsung phones acquired between the end of 2015 and 2024.
• The claimed amount requested is £480m.
• Individual payment is projected to be about £17.
• The case is being held at the specialist court in London.