“A consumer group filing a civil suit against Apple on behalf of over 100 plaintiffs for damages related to a recent software update that slowed down older iPhone models said Thursday that they are also considering preparing a criminal case,” Won Ho-jung reports for The Korea Herald.
“‘If we pursue a criminal case, the charges may include destruction of property caused by slowing down the phones, as well as fraud if (Apple) intentionally deceived users about the update,’ said Yun Chul-min, a lawyer working with the consumer rights group Citizens United for Consumer Sovereignty, at a press conference Thursday,” Won reports. “CUCS was set to file a civil suit representing 122 plaintiffs Thursday, asking for 2.2 million won ($2,000) in damages per plaintiff. The sum includes 1.2 million won for costs related to replacing phones that slowed down as a result of Apple’s operating system update, and 1 million won in compensation for distress.”
Won reports, “This is the first consumer suit to be filed against Apple in Korean courts, but similar suits are ongoing in the US, Israel, France and Australia.”
Read more in the full article here.
MacDailyNews Take: Apple’s stupid self-inflicted wound continues to fester.
SEE ALSO:
French prosecutor launches probe into Apple planned obsolescence – January 8, 2018
Apple’s design decisions and iPhone batteries – January 8, 2018
Apple now faces over two dozen lawsuits for ‘purposefully’ or ‘secretly’ slowing down older iPhones – January 5, 2018
Why aging batteries don’t slow down Android phones like Apple iPhones – January 5, 2018
Apple’s $29 replacement batteries expected to hurt new iPhone sales – January 4, 2018
How to see if Apple’s throttling your iPhone – January 4, 2018
Brazilian agency requires Apple to inform consumers on batteries – January 3, 2018
Analyst: Apple’s ‘batterygate’ solution may mean 16 million fewer iPhones sold this year – January 3, 2018
An Apple conspiracy theory blooms – January 2, 2018
Apple clarifies policy on $29 battery replacements: All iPhone 6 and later devices are eligible – January 2, 2018
Why Apple’s response to iPhone ‘batterygate’ is brilliant – December 30, 2017
Australian lawyers to launch largest-ever class action against Apple over iPhone ‘batterygate’ – December 29, 2017
The most annoying things about Apple’s iPhone ‘batterygate’ apology – December 29, 2017
iFixit discounts iPhone battery replacement kits as Apple cuts prices, apologizes for the confusion – December 29, 2017
15 class action lawsuits filed against Apple for throttling iPhones with aging batteries – December 29, 2017
Apple apologizes for poor communication about iPhone batteries and performance; slashes battery replacement cost from $79 to $29 – December 28, 2017
No, Apple’s throttling of iPhones with aging batteries is not planned obsolescence – December 28, 2017
Apple execs face jail in France after lawsuit over slowing down iPhones – December 28, 2017
Korea seeks explanation from Apple for slowing down devices without warning – December 28, 2017
Apple now facing 8 lawsuits over throttling processors in iPhones with aging batteries – December 27, 2017
Apple tarnished their brand with clandestine iPhone battery management and processor throttling – December 27, 2017
Should Apple replace aging iPhone batteries for free instead of throttling processor speed? – December 21, 2017
Apple confirms iPhones with older batteries will take hits in performance – December 20, 2017
iPhone performance and battery age – December 18, 2017
Apple met with Chinese regulators to discuss iPhone 6s unexpected shutdowns – February 10, 2017
Rumor: Apple may extend iPhone 6s battery replacement program to iPhone 6 – January 17, 2017
A message from Apple about iPhone and unexpected shutdowns – December 2, 2016
Apple offers free battery replacement for ‘very small number’ of iPhone 6s units with unexpected shutdown issue – November 21, 2016
No trolling, asking a very serious question…
Honestly, did no one see this coming at Apple?
This is one of the dumbest decisions ever to make with this kind of adjustment and then deciding to not tell the consumers. Of course consumers are angry about this! They are mad that Apple would make this kind of decision and not tell them.
It doesn’t make Apple look good when they argue that don’t have any planned obsolescence in their agenda.
Stupid of Apple and they deserve all of this.
Fire Cook.
Just more of Samsung trying to capitalize. As usual small things are huge if it’s Apple and large things are small if it’s Samsung. More press on this than on exploding batteries.
Exactly. Its called the Republic of Samsung for a reason.
Honest question because I don’t know…
Did any South Korean consumer groups consider a criminal investigation into Samsung after batteries exploded and injured people?
That was incredibly poor design and testing on Samsung’s part (i.e. negligence).
All depends on whether the consumer feels the ‘error’ was intentional/planned or not.
No not at all. Samsung has nearly everyone in their pockets.
Also Korean consumer groups take an chance they can get to go after foreign companies but generally ignore domestic companies especially the large conglomerates.
You can’t fix STUPID!
On top of that their claim is also baseless….”The sum includes 1.2 million won for costs related to replacing phones that slowed down as a result of Apple’s operating system update…”
Replacing phones when all they need to perform their best is get a new battery…no need to “replace ” their iPhone.
Thats just over 1000 USD. How many phones are they getting now?
The stupidest part of all this beyond Apple’s ignorance, is that this is “just a phone”, the slowness did not have any significant impact on any one that experienced it. Those whose phones turned off or shutdown on them had a far worse experience than those that might have slowed down some percentage (that Ive never seen really quantified)…
However the bottomline is, its still just a phone, which I am sure worked fine as long as the battery had a reasonable charge..
The bottom line for me is, if Apple had told me my iPhone 6 would turn into a slow turd because of iOS 11 – I wouldn’t have upgraded it.
So yeah – I hope they get burned. Deservedly…
And I’ll be damned if I reward them by upgrading anytime in the foreseeable future.