Apple

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

posted by Alan F. / Jul 03, 2012, 7:47 PM

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

This ad explains Apple's free two-year warranty

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.

"We have appealed the recent decision of the (Italian) court as it was, in our view, based upon an incorrect interpretation of the law. We have introduced a number of measures to address the Italian competition authority concerns and we disagree with their latest complaint."-Apple

source: AppleInsider

FEATURED VIDEO

Options

39 Comments

1. PhoneArenaUser

Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011

I hope that this appeal will be rejected.

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:00 PM 17

2. marchels14 unregistered

o my god, Apple is suing somebody again,acting like little baby, stole a toy and called them names. maybe you should start crying like little girl.that is so predictable.

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:07 PM 8

6. taco50

Posts: 5506; Member since: Oct 08, 2009

Your trolling is predictable

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:35 PM 3

3. taco50

Posts: 5506; Member since: Oct 08, 2009

I'm confused I'm reading this that Apple is advertising that you get a free two year warranty. Then it says they're also trying to sell AppleCare. It seems they're doing what they're supposed to if their customers know there's a free option. Am I misreading the article?

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:30 PM 3

9. sprockkets

Posts: 1612; Member since: Jan 16, 2012

look at the picture, year 2 is covered by their protection plan. Why not just say it is covered without it?

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:44 PM 4

4. TROLL

Posts: 4851; Member since: Apr 13, 2012

Hahaha another fine to pay....

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:30 PM 3

30. zhypher_23

Posts: 195; Member since: Jun 04, 2012

Hey, you know what they say "reap what you sow"

posted on Jul 04, 2012, 12:01 AM 1

7. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

TACO, as usual you are so pro APPLE, that it blinds you from the truth. In Italian "una garanzia limitata di un anno efino a 90 giorni di assistenza telefonica gratuita", means in ENGLISH: a limited warranty of one year up to 90 days of free telephone support. That says it all on why APPLE is being fined.

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:39 PM 16

8. Kan_wha

Posts: 88; Member since: Jun 25, 2012

Apple: We will sell you premium warranty and care for 2 years* *Note that default warranty also covers the device for 2 years, so there is really no point in buying the extra bit, but we'll just put the * here and hope that nobody notices this as we're printing this in size 4 font.

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:40 PM 8

11. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

exactly, very misleading...shhhh, do not tell taco the truth, though....it may cry.

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:46 PM 6

10. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Now, it goes on to say that the APPLE CARE warranty plan covers the phone for 2 years, but, APPLE should have just made it plain and simple, in ITALIAN: "..una garanzia limitata di due anni fino a 90 giorni di assistenza telefonica gratuita." Due meaning two in Italian. See how the graphic mentions 90 days of free telephone support? That implies that somehow it is not for the full years. So, unlike American APPLE users who get ripped off with paying a fee for 2 yr support, or keeping the limited, very limited 1 yr warranty, Italians are supposed to get 2 full years of support - so, no 90 day, 1 yr, 2 yr warranty graphic as that does look misleading. APPLE just needs to say something like: 'una garanzia limitata di due anni fino di assistenza telefonica gratuita'

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 8:45 PM 5

14. InspectorGadget80 unregistered

Italy needs to kick Apple out of its country then know what it's like to loose something. that is not America Apple you mislead the Italians. Just because you have billion of dollars money doesn't buy YOU a way out

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 9:13 PM 1

15. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

And, it is sad that American users get only 90 day over the phone support, while all other manufacturers (or majority of) give us 1 full year support.

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 9:23 PM 1

36. taco50

Posts: 5506; Member since: Oct 08, 2009

Blackberry also charges for support. Microsoft also charges. Android doesn't even offer phone support.

posted on Jul 04, 2012, 1:41 AM 1

38. PhoneArenaUser

Posts: 5498; Member since: Aug 05, 2011

After comment #7 and #8, taco turned into defense mode...

posted on Jul 04, 2012, 6:33 AM 0

16. Hammerfest

Posts: 384; Member since: May 12, 2012

Wait... I could just be interpereting this incorrectly... but... "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." Is Apple TELLING Italy that its misinterpereting ITS OWN LAW? TBQH: I had to do a "double take" on this entire sentance because thats all I can come up with after reading it...

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 9:24 PM 1

21. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

Hey, is your user name in regards to playing Halo?

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 9:35 PM 0

17. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

There, the facts have been written, and the trolls shall leave the land blinded by their hatred....

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 9:24 PM 1

18. gallitoking

Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011

Poor Italy ... they have woken the giant.. now they will appeal and win but an apology as minimum... first the Euro Cup ...now this..

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 9:25 PM 2

19. networkdood

Posts: 6330; Member since: Mar 31, 2010

So, you are ok with APPLE misleading the Italian people? Do you know how to read Italian? I do, and that ad is misleading.

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 9:31 PM 2

27. gallitoking

Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011

here in the States they do it all the time.. everything is made from "premium" materials..why are they any special... read the fine print Italians..

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 11:29 PM 1

28. VZWuser76

Posts: 4974; Member since: Mar 04, 2010

Wow. Are you seriously insinuating that Italy needs to be afraid of Apple? You're actually believing that a country needs to be afraid of a company? Think about that for a second. Okay, so what is Apple going to do to Italy, place a ban on Italians coming to the US, and deporting the ones that are here? Come on, seriously, Italy is a sovereign nation. It's their sandbox, and if they don't want you operating there, you won't. Especially if their law say that your business practices are unlawful and are to the detriment of their citizens. I can handle the fanboy back and forth to an extent, but to say that a company is more powerful than a sovereign nation? Just, really, think before you post.

posted on Jul 03, 2012, 11:58 PM 1

31. gallitoking

Posts: 4721; Member since: May 17, 2011

1st of all is not Italy the country doing this.. ok.. it goes to whomever is trying to be funny... because we all know this exist everywhere.. misleading consumers,... is normal so dont see the big deal..

posted on Jul 04, 2012, 12:19 AM 1

32. VZWuser76

Posts: 4974; Member since: Mar 04, 2010

So because some companies break the law it's okay then? Murder, theft and rape happen everywhere as well, so by your logic we should let that slide also. As far as me being "funny", you used the same words that were used to describe the US in the aftermath of the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor. Do you honestly think that these two things equate? As an American who had two family members in the armed forces during WWII, I can assure you they do not. In the end, it doesn't matter what happens here in the US, in China, Russia, or anywhere else. What does matter is what's happening in Italy. Apple had already made changes in their marketing. That shows what they were doing was wrong IN ITALY. Perhaps Italy takes this more seriously than we do here, but that doesn't mean that they must comply with American law. Lastly, it is the Italian trust regulating body. A regulating body is part of the government. And they are charging Apple with not complying with EU regulations. You were quick to point out how if Posner ruled against android that all the android fans would then be against him. Well the EU have gone after android OEMs in the past, and you were fine with that. But when Apple's on the wrong side of them, they're in the wrong? Hypocrite much? Like I said in my last post, if Apple is not complying with Italian law, they are well within their rights to fine Apple or ban them if they don't comply. Apple doesn't have the right to sell anywhere, they have the privilege.

posted on Jul 04, 2012, 12:50 AM 1

34. VZWuser76

Posts: 4974; Member since: Mar 04, 2010

And it's not just misleading the consumer. They are billing for something that the consumer already has available to them when they purchase the product. Call it double billing or theft, but in essence they are overcharging their customers.

posted on Jul 04, 2012, 12:58 AM 1

35. VZWuser76

Posts: 4974; Member since: Mar 04, 2010

Just one other thing. If I recall correctly, wasn't one of Apple's suits against Samsung mostly about how similar the Galaxy S was to the iPhone, that it would confuse consumers? You said that the Italians need to read the fine print in this matter. Well if the consumer can't read SAMSUNG on the box, isn't it their own fault if they got the wrong product? you can't have it both ways. Who knows, maybe Apple was banking on the people not reading the fine print would be the same people not being able to tell a Samsung from an Apple.