Finance
Qualcomm says UK lawsuit over smartphone chip royalties will be withdrawn
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 17, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 17, 2026
Quick Summary
Qualcomm will withdraw a UK lawsuit over smartphone chip royalties, as Which? finds no competition law violations or inflated prices.
Qualcomm to Withdraw UK Lawsuit Over Smartphone Chip Royalties
Qualcomm Lawsuit Overview
LONDON, Feb 17 (Reuters) - Qualcomm on Tuesday said a London lawsuit alleging it had abused its dominant position to force Apple and Samsung to pay inflated royalties will be withdrawn.
Background of the Case
The British consumers' association called Which? had brought the case on behalf of around 29 million people who bought iPhones or Samsung devices since 2015.
Which? Consumers Association's Role
Which? said in a statement that it would apply to withdraw the case having concluded Qualcomm's practices "did not infringe competition laws, did not result in inflated royalties, and did not lead to an increase in prices consumers paid for their mobile phones".
Conclusion of the Lawsuit
(Reporting by Sam Tobin; editing by Catarina Demony)
Key Takeaways
- •Qualcomm to withdraw UK lawsuit over chip royalties.
- •Which? represented 29 million UK consumers in the case.
- •The lawsuit alleged Qualcomm forced inflated royalties.
- •Which? concluded Qualcomm did not infringe competition laws.
- •No increase in phone prices due to Qualcomm's practices.
Frequently Asked Questions about Qualcomm says UK lawsuit over smartphone chip royalties will be withdrawn
1What are royalties?
Royalties are payments made to the owner of a property or rights for the use of that property or rights, often calculated as a percentage of revenue generated.
2What is competition law?
Competition law is a set of regulations that promote competition and prevent monopolistic practices in the market to ensure fair trading and consumer protection.
