Tech giant Apple has been fined $2.5 million dollars for misleading the public and its followers by claiming that the latest iPad is compatible with the 4G broadband network.
An Australian judge handed down the verdict and enforced the hefty fine to Apple.
Federal Court Justice Mordy Bormberg found that Apple, by marketing their latest tablet as ‘iPad with WiFi + 4G’, breached Australian consumer law. This is because Apple’s latest tablet could not directly connect to the Telstra LTE mobile data network in the country.
According to Justice Bormberg, “The conduct concerned was deliberate and very serious. It exposed a significant proportion of Australian consumers of tablet devices to a misleading representation.”
Apple was informed by Telstra that was not compatible with their 4G network. Nevertheless, Apple marketed their product as is and didn’t replace it.
Justice Bormberg added that Apple’s desire for global conformity isn’t an excuse to mislead the people into believing otherwise.
“The fact of the litigation and the media attention which it has drawn, will no doubt be a sobre reminder to Apple, and others who rely on their brand image that, as well as a penalty, there will likely be an intangible cost involved in a contravention of the Australian consumer law,” he said.
Was it a fair for the Justice to hand Apple the fine?
Image Source: smartphoneevny.com
