Apple to fight Italian antitrust ruling, plans appeal
updated 06:44 pm EDT, Tue July 3, 2012
Says it is in compliance with two-year warranty law
Apple has rebuffed the complaint of Italy's AGCM antitrust regulatory authority and says it is in compliance with Italian law that mandates two years of original warranty coverage on computer and electronic equipment, and that it will appeal a recent ruling that threatened Apple with a temporary shutdown in the country if it did not more clearly offer a free two-year warranty with its products as required by European Union law.
The disagreement between Apple and the Autoritá Garante della Concerrenza e del Mercato isn't really about the actual warranty, but more about the Italian's belief that Apple is selling AppleCare extended warranties by not making customers more aware that they are entitled to two years of coverage without it. Apple has already been fined over a million dollars for failing to make explicit the free guarantee.
The Mac maker has issued a brief statement that denies the charges. "We have introduced a number of measures to address the Italian competition authority concerns, and we disagree with their latest complaint," the company told Reuters. "We have appealed the recent decision of the (Italian) court as it was, in our view, based upon an incorrect interpretation of the law." The AGCM has threatened both additional fines and even a 30-day closure of Apple's Italian businesses if it doesn't comply.
Apple's warranty worldwide is only one year in length, a standard for the industry. Customers who want additional coverage can purchase AppleCare, which extends the original warranty by up to two years. No other EU countries have thus far complained about Apple's policies.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Aug 2010
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In EU, you are entitled to a 2 years warranty from the product … seller. Apple wants and has a direct relation with its products customers. When a client goes to an Apple store or directly contact the Apple assistance, unless he has bought the product from Apple, he is limited to Apple generous one year manufacturer warranty (generous because in EU, once again, warranty has to be handled by the seller, no the manufacturer). And when a customer (wrongfully according to EU law) reach Apple for support, Apple tries to solves the issue directly with its own internal procedures. And Italia would rather have them they: "go f*ck yourself. You bought this elsewhere: stop bugging me and go ask your supermarket or online store with no support".