Qualcomm faces $647M UK lawsuit over inflated royalties
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San Diego-based chipmaker Qualcomm faces a £480 million ($646.8 million) lawsuit in London, filed on behalf of smartphone users. The case claims Qualcomm abused its dominant position to force Apple and Samsung to pay inflated royalties. The lawsuit was brought by Which?, the UK’s largest independent consumer organization. Its lawyers argue that roughly 29 million people who purchased iPhones or Samsung devices since 2015 are entitled to compensation. UK Consumer Group accuses Qualcomm of misusing its powerful position against Apple and Samsung Earlier, the UK consumer organization claimed that Qualcomm had forced manufacturers to pay higher royalties even when they did not use the company’s chips in their devices. This action occurred under a global policy called “no license, no chips.” In response to their client’s claims, lawyers for Which? presented the case in front of the court and pointed out in court documents prepared for a five-week trial that this practice functions like an “industry-wide private tax,” which enhances Qualcomm’s profitability and increases the prices of devices. Qualcomm denied the allegations against it, stating that the lawsuit incorrectly describes its long-established regulations, which require manufacturers to obtain a license for its standard essential patents before purchasing chipsets. In the meantime, when the consumer organization suggested that the company could charge certain royalties on Apple and Samsung, as they are high-net-worth buyers, Qualcomm’s lawyers rejected the proposal. This case, filed at London’s Competition Appeal Tribunal, aims to assess and determine whether Qualcomm is liable for the claims of the claimant class. If, by any chance, the UK consumer organization wins the case, another trial will be set up to determine damages. Qualcomm faces several lawsuits questioning its patent licensing practices It is worth noting that this is not the first lawsuit against Qualcomm questioning its patent licensing. Earlier in 2023,…
Filed under: News - @ October 7, 2025 7:24 am