Apple files appeal against Italy's anti-trust regulatory body

Earlier Tuesday, we told you how Apple was being accused of not living up to EU regulations which requires a retailer to offer its customers a two-year warranty on its products, at no extra charge. Italy's competition agency, let's call them AGCM for short, says that despite ads for the Apple iPhone that show that buyers are entitled to a free two-year coverage against defects on initial delivery, as well as an additional one-year out-of-box warranty, the AGCM believes the information given is insufficient. An AGCM bulletin says that the wording on the ad merely encourages iPhone purchasers to buy optional AppleCare warranty coverage without telling them that a free two-year warranty comes with their purchase.

With the AGCM ruling that Apple had failed to live up to its regulations, Apple has announced that it would appeal the decision. Apple has been given 30 days to meet the regulations. If it fails to do so, the Cupertino based firm will have to close its Italian Apple Stores for 30 days and pay a fine of 300,000 EUR or $378,000 USD.. After receiving the warning from the AGCM on Monday about its lack of cooperation, Apple said that it had been following the regulations and that the agency had given Apple a warning based on incorrect interpretation of the law.source: AppleInsider