Apple previously accused Qualcomm of “double dipping” as a result of the company’s policy of selling radio chips for use in iPhones. The Cupertino company also objected to Qualcomm charging a percentage of the iPhone’s price rather than a fixed fee per chip.
Apple withdrew its claims as early as 2024, but an independent class action on behalf of iPhone owners was still ongoing. This lawsuit is now discontinued…
Qualcomm claims “double-dipping”.
The dispute between Apple and Qualcomm over the radio chips used in iPhones has been protracted and often heated.
Qualcomm has been accused of effectively charging Apple twice: once for the chips themselves. and again for a patent license that gives Apple the right to use the technology embedded in the chips. Apple referred to this practice as double-dipping.
Apple took aim at Qualcomm’s practice of requiring customers to sign patent license agreements before buying chips, known in the industry as “no license, no chips.” The license allows Qualcomm to take a percentage of the total selling price of an iPhone in exchange for supplying the modem chips that allow the phones to connect to cellular data networks.
You can read a more detailed recap of the dispute here, but Apple was ultimately forced to settle the case out of court.
Independent class action withdrawn
Although Apple settled the case, a separate independent lawsuit continued in the UK. It brought the same claims against Qualcomm, arguing that the policy forced iPhone prices up and therefore consumers were entitled to compensation.
Reuters states that this action has now been terminated.
Qualcomm said on Tuesday that a lawsuit in London alleging it abused its dominant position to force Apple and Samsung to pay inflated royalties would be withdrawn.
The British consumer association, which goes by the name Which? filed the case on behalf of approximately 29 million people who bought iPhones or Samsung phones since 2015, seeking £480 million ($652.03 million) in damages.
It was patently clear that the lawsuit would not succeed.
Apple is still in the process of transitioning to its own radio chips.
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