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Close to 30 million people in the United Kingdom who bought an Apple or Samsung Electronics mobile phone between the year 2015 to 2024 might be eligible to about £17 per claimant in the event that a buyer advocacy organization wins in its case against the American tech giant Qualcomm.

Court Case Begins On Monday

The advocacy organization is taking the technology corporation to the CAT in London this week.

The legal proceedings between the watchdog and Qualcomm is expected to continue for around 35 days.

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

The allegation is that the firm compelled Apple & Samsung to pay excessive costs and royalty payments for essential phone parts, which then raised the price of those smartphones for users.

Key Points the Legal Action Will Examine

The trial beginning this week will focus on whether Qualcomm had control and, should that be the case, whether it misused a leading role.

Should the advocacy organization is victorious, there will be a second stage seeking 480 million pounds from Qualcomm, to be divided between an projected twenty-nine million UK smartphone users impacted.

The organization is seeking damages for all affected Apple Inc. & Samsung Electronics smartphones bought between 1 October 2015 and January 9, 2024.

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

Past Legal Challenges and The Firm's Response

The chipmaker has previously said the case has "no foundation".

A parallel case against Qualcomm is currently underway in Canada, and the company has also previously been sanctioned by the European Union for anti-competitive breaches.

The FTC in the America sued the firm for anti-competitive behavior in the way it sold rights to its technology back in the year 2017, but had its case thrown out in the year 2020.

Importance of the Legal Action

The head of the organization remarked: "This trial is a significant event. It demonstrates how the influence of buyers - represented by the group - can be used to make the major firms to answer when they exploit their market power."

The chipmaker is one of the leading producers of handset semiconductors and has faced accusations about restrictive conduct previously.

• Eligible smartphones include Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics phones acquired between the end of 2015 and 2024.
• The claimed amount being sought is £480m.
• Per-person payment is expected to be about seventeen pounds.
• The case is taking place at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London.