Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.
In a landmark case against US tech giant Qualcomm, nearly 30 million individuals in the UK who purchased Apple or Samsung smartphones between 2015 and 2024 may be eligible for approximately £17 each. This legal battle, initiated by consumer campaign group Which?, is set to unfold at the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London starting next Monday. The trial is slated to last five weeks, with Which? alleging anti-competitive practices on the part of Qualcomm.
Which? asserts that Qualcomm utilized its market dominance to compel Apple and Samsung into paying exorbitant prices and licensing fees for essential handset components. Consequently, the cost of smartphones surged for consumers who purchased devices from these brands during the specified period. Qualcomm has been approached by BBC for comment on the impending trial, which will scrutinize whether the tech giant abused its authoritative position and market power.
Should Which? emerge victorious in this legal showdown, there will be a subsequent phase aimed at recovering £480 million from Qualcomm. This hefty sum is earmarked for redistribution among an estimated 29 million British mobile phone owners impacted by the allegedly anti-competitive practices. An estimated compensation of £17 per affected individual is being pursued by Which? for all Apple and Samsung smartphones procured between October 1, 2015, and January 9, 2024. Although Qualcomm has vehemently refuted the allegations, the consumer group remains steadfast in seeking justice.
Anabel Hoult, the CEO of Which?, lauded the trial as a pivotal moment underscoring consumer power in holding corporate behemoths accountable for potential exploitation of their dominant market position. This legal saga comes on the heels of similar antitrust litigation against Qualcomm in Canada, along with prior fines imposed on the company by the European Union. As a key player in the smartphone chip manufacturing landscape, Qualcomm has grappled with a history of accusations concerning anti-competitive conduct. Notably, the Federal Trade Commission in the United States waged a legal battle against Qualcomm in 2017, alleging unfair licensing practices, though the case was dismissed in 2020
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found. Blocked by captcha.