Italy Dishes Out Million Dollar Fine to Apple

[Michael Essany]

The boot-shaped European nation is putting its boots to Apple's behind this week. On Tuesday, Italy’s antitrust body slapped Apple, Inc. with a $1.2 million penalty.

I'll pause for a moment while you chuckle at how small of a fine that is to Apple.

Okay, now that we've all had a good laugh, let's look at the reason for the fine. According to Italian authorities,
Apple is being punished for its misleading tactics in encouraging customers to buy the AppleCare Protection Plan. The problem, according to published reports out of Italy, is that Apple largely fails to inform consumers that the purchase of an iDevice already comes with a guaranteed and lengthy period of compulsory free customer support from Apple.

You see, in Italy, companies are mandated by law to provide 24 months of free support to customers. The Italian Antitrust Authority says the same laws apply to Apple and that Apple has failed to clearly articulate this reality to consumers, many of whom may have been duped into purchasing something they didn't really need.

All told, the fine (900,000 euros) is being jointly levied against Apple Italia, Apple Sales International and Apple Retail Italia. Authorities say Apple has 90 days to update its website with information about the two-year guarantee of free customer support...

...or else "the boot" will be back.

Source: Reuters

[Mr. Russian]

wow that is a small fine for Apple but a big fine for me =P

[Robnobba]

Its just because italy has become so poor the last couple of years.. They need the money :b

[R.Mortera]

Its just because italy has become so poor the last couple of years.. They need the money :b

Lol!

[Themrdecan]

It would be entertaining if apple pulled all it's products from Italy, that would teach them to look a gift horse in the mouth!

[vantheman169]

It would be entertaining if apple pulled all it's products from Italy, that would teach them to look a gift horse in the mouth!

I was in Sicily for a year when I was in the Navy and they love their apple products there too. The Apple authorized dealers are a pain in the *** to find over there, but so is just about anything your looking for. Anyway, This would be hilarious if Apple did do that.

[brab]

Whether you chuckle or not, $1.2MM is still a nice chunk of change, even in 2011 and even for Apple...Are they going to feel it? They won't...but I guarantee you they won't be happy about it...

That's a good amount of paychecks, and I really can't see any REASONABLE human being just shrugging off losing that much money, no matter how much they have.

[Zokunei]

Sounds like Apple deserved it to me.

It would be entertaining if apple pulled all it's products from Italy, that would teach them to look a gift horse in the mouth!

It would also probably be a bigger loss for Apple than Italy. Plus it's not the consumers' fault that this happened. Or the Italian government's, really.

[jOnGarrett]

I just did the untethered JB and now some of my apps that worked are giving me messages that they don't wok with 5.0.1 which is not true, there were working just fine a few minutes ago. :-(

ooops, wrong post

[kuhndsn]

Sounds like Apple deserved it to me.



It would also probably be a bigger loss for Apple than Italy. Plus it's not the consumers' fault that this happened. Or the Italian government's, really.

Not as big of a loss when the EU puts the hold on Italy.

[Orby]

Apple probably made that much off AppleCare Plus in Italy last week to cover that fine.

"What's a couple mil to a [brother] like me, could you please remind me?"

[rickuk]

Thumbs up to the Italian Antitrust body standing up for the consumers, proving that Apple can't run roughshot over local laws

[LSZ33]

Let's not give apple any ideas because i'm in the Army and will be stationed there come March '12. And I'd love to own an iphone 5.

[Jabbacks]

Limitation of the fine is probably in their anti-trust law. Designed for Italians only.

[djdraco]

That's like everyone laughing at doctor evil over a million dollars.

[JacquesChirac]

there are laws in italy... wait what?!