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Qualcomm Faces £480 Million UK Lawsuit Over Smartphone Chips

By  |  October 6, 2025

Qualcomm is contesting a £480 million ($646.8 million) lawsuit in London that accuses the chipmaking giant of exploiting its dominant position to impose excessive royalty fees on Apple and Samsung, according to Reuters.

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    The legal action, brought by British consumer advocacy group Which?, represents approximately 29 million smartphone owners who purchased iPhones or Samsung devices since 2015. Lawyers for Which? claim that Qualcomm’s global “no licenses, no chips” policy effectively forces manufacturers to pay inflated fees for access to essential patents, which in turn raises the cost of consumer devices.

    In court filings prepared for a five-week trial beginning Monday, Which?’s legal team described Qualcomm’s policy as “an industry-wide private tax which ensures higher profits for Qualcomm and inflates the cost of devices.” Per Reuters, the Competition Appeal Tribunal in London will first determine whether Qualcomm is liable to the consumer class before deciding on any compensation if Which? prevails.

    Qualcomm has rejected the allegations, asserting that the lawsuit misrepresents its long-standing licensing system for standard essential patents. The company maintains that it requires manufacturers to secure patent licenses before purchasing its chipsets, a practice it says is lawful and consistent with industry standards.

    According to Reuters, Qualcomm’s legal team also argued that Apple and Samsung—two of the world’s most powerful technology companies—possess substantial negotiating leverage and that the claim exaggerates Qualcomm’s influence in the market.

    The case echoes prior legal challenges against Qualcomm in other jurisdictions. A similar lawsuit in California, which contested the firm’s licensing practices and alleged exclusive-dealing arrangements with Apple and other manufacturers, was dismissed in 2023, per Reuters.

    Source: Reuters