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Close to 30 million consumers in the UK who purchased an Apple Inc. and/or Samsung Electronics smartphone from the year 2015 to the year 2024 could be able to approximately seventeen pounds per person if a buyer campaign group is successful in its legal action against the American corporation Qualcomm.

Court Case Starts Today

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

The case between the watchdog and Qualcomm is projected to run for five weeks.

The group is alleging the chip company of unfair competition.

The allegation is that the company pressured Apple & Samsung Electronics to pay inflated prices and licensing fees for necessary mobile hardware, which then raised the price of those mobile phones for consumers.

Key Points the Case Will Examine

The legal proceedings starting this week will examine whether the chipmaker had control and, if proven, whether it exploited a powerful stance.

Should the consumer group 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 phone owners involved.

The consumer group is claiming compensation for all eligible Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics handsets purchased between 1 October 2015 and January 9, 2024.

The group says this would probably amount at around £17 per individual.

Previous Allegations and The Firm's Statement

Qualcomm has in the past claimed the legal action has "little merit".

A comparable claim against the tech giant is currently underway in the Canadian courts, and the company has also in the past been penalized by the EU for anti-competitive practices.

The Federal Trade Commission in the America sued the company for anti-competitive behavior in the way it licensed its innovations back in the year 2017, but had its claim rejected in 2020.

Impact of the Trial

The CEO of the consumer group commented: "This trial is a huge moment. It demonstrates how the collective strength of consumers - supported by our organization - can be used to require the biggest companies to be accountable should they misuse their dominant position."

Qualcomm is one of the largest global producers of mobile processors and has encountered claims about unfair practices before.

• Qualifying smartphones include Apple Inc. and Samsung Electronics models purchased between the end of 2015 and the start of 2024.
• The total payout demanded is 480 million pounds.
• Individual payout is estimated to be around 17 pounds.
• The trial is proceeding at the CAT in the UK capital.