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UK Tribunal Hears Which? Class Action Alleging Qualcomm Drove Up Apple and Samsung Phone Costs

The five-week liability hearing will test Which?’s claim that Qualcomm’s licensing tactics inflated UK smartphone prices for years.

Overview

  • Proceedings began on October 6 and are scheduled to run for about five weeks, according to Which?.
  • The opt-out claim seeks more than £480 million on behalf of roughly 29 million UK buyers.
  • Eligibility covers Apple and Samsung smartphones purchased between October 1, 2015 and January 9, 2024 from any retailer or network.
  • Which? alleges Qualcomm refused to license key patents to rival chipmakers and tied chipset supply to separate licences with inflated royalties, pushing up consumer costs or reducing handset quality.
  • Qualcomm says the claim has "no basis," while Which? is urging affected consumers to sign up for case updates.