Josh Ong
In addition to the A$2.25 million (US$2.23 million) penalty, Apple is also expected to pay A$300,000 toward the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's legal fees, The Australian reports (via The Next Web). The ACCC filed its complaint against Apple in March shortly after the release of the new iPad.
Colin Golvan, who represents the ACCC, described the penalty as "substantial" and hoped it would serve as a deterrent to the computer industry.
Though Apple has agreed to the settlement amount, a judge still needs to sign off on the agreement. According to the report, Judge Mordy Bromberg expressed concerns that he didn't have enough information to ascertain whether the penalty is "appropriate."
"At the moment on the agreed facts you put before me, I have no idea whether a consumer who bought the iPad, thinking it could connect to 4G but then realising that it couldn't, has been impacted in any way," Bromberg said."
The commission took issue with Apple advertising the device as 4G even though it was not compatible with LTE networks in Australia. Apple initially defended its decision, claiming that iPad-compatible 3G networks operated by Telstra, Optus and Vodafone in the country could be classified as 4G. The company also revised its store to better inform customers about the iPad's LTE functionality and also offered refunds to customers who were unhappy with their purchase.
Last month, Apple acquiesced to complaints and began rebranding its "iPad Wi-Fi + 4G" as the "iPad W-Fi + Cellular."
William Gallagher
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104 Comments
This settlement pisses me off. Apple offered anyone who wanted it a full refund, so how can anyone claim "damages." This is just the government extorting money from a wealthy company to fill their pockets while looking like they are "watching out for consumers." Granted, I can't blame apple for settling to avoid the hassle.
Yeah...Here's some pocket change, kid. Now move on, yer botherin' me, yer botherin' me.
I am so embarrassed right now to be Australian. Let's hope His Honour reviews this and finds that no-one was actually harmed etc by this naming issue, and dismisses the case.
The ACCC was supposed to be tougher this year, yet it picks on Apple instead of the banks, telcos and health insurance industries. Unbelievable.
"This never would have happened under Steve Jobs watch."
[quote name="Tenfingers" url="/t/150547/apple-settles-with-australian-regulator-for-a-2-25m-over-4g-ipad#post_2123151"]This settlement pisses me off. Apple offered anyone who wanted it a full refund, so how can anyone claim "damages." This is just the government extorting money from a wealthy company to fill their pockets while looking like they are "watching out for consumers." Granted, I can't blame apple for settling to avoid the hassle.
[/quote]
This goes to show you that you need to think about the idiot more than the average person when marketing a product.
A token settlement and possibly face saving outcome (as illustrated by the judge's inability to determine a proper penalty). No one losing sleep in Cupertino tonight over this!