Oxera is acting as economic expert for Which?, the UK’s independent consumer representative, in a landmark UK collective action against US-based wireless technology firm Qualcomm.
Qualcomm develops wireless technology and holds standard-essential patents (SEPs) that are necessary inputs for handset manufacturers wishing to implement cellular standards such as long-term evolution (LTE). Qualcomm also manufactures baseband processor chipsets (which also contain the relevant IP), another input required by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to produce LTE-compatible devices like smartphones.
Which? alleges that Qualcomm abused its dominant position in the markets for chipsets and SEPs, inflating costs for Apple and Samsung, which was reflected in higher smartphone prices for consumers. Oxera’s antitrust, IP, and damages quantification expertise was a critical element in Which?’s application to the Competition Appeal Tribunal.
Long established as one of Europe’s leading consultancies in the field of competition damages, Oxera continues to provide expert evidence for both claimants and defendants in collective competition damages cases before the UK Competition Appeal Tribunal and elsewhere. This is a landmark case for this emerging regime.
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Stevie Dixon
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+44 (0) 1865 253 248 [email protected]