Apple iPhone Battery Lawsuit Dismissed

MacRumors · Sep 26, 2008, 10:30 AM

Apple can be the target of many lawsuits, some more justified than others. One widely reported lawsuit at the time of the iPhone's initial launch attempted to sue Apple over the iPhone's sealed battery, limited number of charge cycles and fee for battery replacement.

Bloomberg reports today that the lawsuit has been dismissed without a trial in a summary judgement.

Quote:

"Apple disclosed on the outside of the iPhone package that the 'battery has limited recharge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced by Apple service provider,'" Kennelly wrote in his Sept. 23 opinion, quoting the packaging. "Under the circumstances, no reasonable jury could find that deception occurred.''

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ddTaylor · Sep 26, 2008, 10:33 AM

Chalk one up for common sense! See, sometimes out legal system DOES work - most of the time it is co-opted by others for personal gain, but not this time! My hats off to this Judge for using his head! Refreshing - very refreshing.

Beric · Sep 26, 2008, 10:33 AM

A stupid lawsuit. While we might all like the outcome were such a lawsuit to win, no one can say it was actually justified.

Rojo · Sep 26, 2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beric

A stupid lawsuit. While we might all like the outcome were such a lawsuit to win, no one can say it was actually justified.

And what would the outcome have been? Replaceable batteries? That would severely impact on the overall design of the phone, or made for a thicker device. I, for one, would NOT have liked that outcome.

Merkuryy · Sep 26, 2008, 10:36 AM

In a year or two ,this dude would found half of his equipment at home having the same phrase on it. I don't like the internal battery (which s one of the two main cause why I didn't get one when I was in the States), but do you have to have lawsuit, c'mon, you simply don't know anything about portable electronic industry

Beric · Sep 26, 2008, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rojo

And what would the outcome have been? Replaceable batteries? That would severely impact on the overall design of the phone, or made for a thicker device. I, for one, would NOT have liked that outcome.

Actually, kinda true. But being able to bring a spare on long trips would be nice, and most of Apple's devices are too thin as it is.

krye · Sep 26, 2008, 10:40 AM

Finally! One for Apple. I for one am sick of these BS lawsuits against Apple in an attempt to get rich quick.

bijou · 10:43 AM

I am sick of these whiny, pathetic losers with their useless lawsuits.

Beric · Sep 26, 2008, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by krye

Finally! One for Apple. I for one am sick of these BS lawsuits against Apple in an attempt to get rich quick.

As we all are.

nick9191 · Sep 26, 2008, 10:48 AM

I'm going to print off some cards you see at bus stops and on notice boards.

Need cash quick?
Why not sue Apple?
£1,000,000 to £100,000,000 per year.
Call xxx

DaveTheGrey · Sep 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

a german court would just laugh at the person who tries something like this...

Loge · Sep 26, 2008, 10:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rojo

And what would the outcome have been? Replaceable batteries? That would severely impact on the overall design of the phone, or made for a thicker device. I, for one, would NOT have liked that outcome.

Disclosure on the package to use a larger font-size? Or all capitals? Tannoy announcements in the Apple stores?

PMR · Sep 26, 2008, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave187

a german court would just laugh at the person who tries something like this...

Well, Europe in general.

TheOrioles33 · Sep 26, 2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beric

Actually, kinda true. But being able to bring a spare on long trips would be nice, and most of Apple's devices are too thin as it is.

Or you could just plug it in. Unless of course you are talking about hiking through the woods or somewhere that electricity is not readily available.

mainstreetmark · Sep 26, 2008, 10:55 AM

Doesn't iPhone 3G have a cover that's easier to remove, and a replaceable battery inside it?

One possible outcome of the lawsuit would be to make Apple waive the replacement fee. But, I'm used to batteries tanking. Thank you cold fusion!

Tummy · Sep 26, 2008, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mainstreetmark

Doesn't iPhone 3G have a cover that's easier to remove, and a replaceable battery inside it?

One possible outcome of the lawsuit would be to make Apple waive the replacement fee. But, I'm used to batteries tanking. Thank you cold fusion!

There is no replacement fee (the fee is included in the battery price).

http://www.apple.com/support/iphone/service/battery/

whooleytoo · Sep 26, 2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rojo

And what would the outcome have been? Replaceable batteries? That would severely impact on the overall design of the phone, or made for a thicker device. I, for one, would NOT have liked that outcome.

How much thicker, and why? I'm just curious, do you know this, or are you speculating?

I'd love to see replaceable batteries on the iPhone; since I suspect the main reason it isn't replaceable is for planned obsolescence. Apple hope when the battery performance degrades, users will buy a new iPhone rather than send the old one off to have the battery changed. Chances are, they're right.

apixel · Sep 26, 2008, 10:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beric

Actually, kinda true. But being able to bring a spare on long trips would be nice, and most of Apple's devices are too thin as it is.

There are a few batteries out there that recharge your phone and are not too bulky. It's not quite the same as swapping one out, but I can certainly keep making calls with it connected, and it charges the phone fairly quickly.

Google for richardsolo batteries.

Stargaze · Sep 26, 2008, 11:15 AM

definately glad to see some brains used in declining this one..

As long as apple replaces my battery in warranty for free i dont care if i have to pay for OOW as long as its just the cost of the battery not shipping, labour, and hardware...

jmorrison0722 · Sep 26, 2008, 11:15 AM

I must admit I'm not a fan of apple's battery philosophy, but they clearly explain it up front. When the battery doesn't perform, they fix the device. They are doing right by the customer. Besides, they do provide a dock connector for 3rd party charging devices / external batteries.

iSightG5 · Sep 26, 2008, 11:26 AM

Doesnt the iphone have a dual battery setup or was that ditched before the first gen launched? I remember when they announced the iphone they mentioned that it would have a battery for the ipod portion and one for the phone, yet there is only one battery indicator.

IJ Reilly · Sep 26, 2008, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by whooleytoo

I'd love to see replaceable batteries on the iPhone; since I suspect the main reason it isn't replaceable is for planned obsolescence. Apple hope when the battery performance degrades, users will buy a new iPhone rather than send the old one off to have the battery changed. Chances are, they're right.

It's a familiar concept. Every electric shaver I've ever owned had a battery that could not be replaced by the consumer, and the cost of sending it back to the manufacturer for replacement is close to the cost of a new shaver. The problem with this strategy is that they can't stop you from replacing the old device with one made by someone else.

kerryn · Sep 26, 2008, 11:56 AM

While it is annoying that the battery is not user replaceable, with that said I have never needed to replace a battery on a cell phone.

In the end, common sense prevailed.

HLdan · Sep 26, 2008, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Beric

Actually, kinda true. But being able to bring a spare on long trips would be nice, and most of Apple's devices are too thin as it is.

This is one area I will have to disagree because I speak from first hand experience. I worked for Sprint for 7 years selling the cell phones and hardly any customer ever buys a spare battery. Most of them wait until the included battery is no longer usable and then they just use that excuse to buy a new phone.
With that said, I just bought an iPod Touch and I am getting the Applecare so I can get either a replacement battery or iPod when the time comes.

KingYaba · Sep 26, 2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

battery has limited recharge cycles and may eventually need to be replaced by Apple service provider

Just imagine if they did this in a notebook.

Sep 26, 2008, 10:33 AM	#3
Beric macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2008	A stupid lawsuit. While we might all like the outcome were such a lawsuit to win, no one can say it was actually justified. __________________ "If I wanted an Apple phone, would I be looking at an iPod touch? If I didn't want to pay a $2000 contract, would I be looking at an iPhone?"

Sep 26, 2008, 10:36 AM	#5
Merkuryy macrumors regular Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Shanghai, China	In a year or two ,this dude would found half of his equipment at home having the same phrase on it. I don't like the internal battery (which s one of the two main cause why I didn't get one when I was in the States), but do you have to have lawsuit, c'mon, you simply don't know anything about portable electronic industry __________________ MBP 2.2ghz iPod Nano 4G(1G) iPod 5G(30G),iPod Shuffle(2G),Sony NW-E407,Creative Muvo2 (4G),iPod Mini(4G),YP-T10(2G),iPod Touch(8G) ,iPod 6G(80G)now

Sep 26, 2008, 10:40 AM	#7
krye macrumors 68000 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: USA	Finally! One for Apple. I for one am sick of these BS lawsuits against Apple in an attempt to get rich quick. __________________ RyeMAC3.net RescueMyClassicMac.com iNeedCoffeeToCode.com 8 Core Mac Pro, 30" ACD, iPod Mini, Nano, Shuffle, iPhone 3G, MSi Wind with OSX

Sep 26, 2008, 10:43 AM	#8
bijou macrumors regular Join Date: Sep 2007	I am sick of these whiny, pathetic losers with their useless lawsuits. __________________ words matter 15" MBP C2D 2.33 ghz, Dell 2407-HC Cube 1.8 w/23" ADC monitor Last edited by bijou : Sep 26, 2008 at 10:43 AM. Reason: spelling

Sep 26, 2008, 10:49 AM	#11
DaveTheGrey macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2003	a german court would just laugh at the person who tries something like this... __________________ M$ you're coming to a sad realisation, cancel or allow? flickr twitter

Sep 26, 2008, 10:33 AM	#2
ddTaylor macrumors 6502 Join Date: Mar 2007	Chalk one up for common sense! See, sometimes out legal system DOES work - most of the time it is co-opted by others for personal gain, but not this time! My hats off to this Judge for using his head! Refreshing - very refreshing.

Sep 26, 2008, 10:48 AM	#10
nick9191 macrumors 68030 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Britain	I'm going to print off some cards you see at bus stops and on notice boards. Need cash quick? Why not sue Apple? £1,000,000 to £100,000,000 per year. Call xxx

Sep 26, 2008, 10:55 AM	#15
mainstreetmark macrumors 68000 Join Date: May 2003 Location: Saint Augustine, FL	Doesn't iPhone 3G have a cover that's easier to remove, and a replaceable battery inside it? One possible outcome of the lawsuit would be to make Apple waive the replacement fee. But, I'm used to batteries tanking. Thank you cold fusion! __________________ iTunesRegistry.com <-- v3.0 Now Playing

Sep 26, 2008, 11:15 AM	#19
Stargaze macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2008	definately glad to see some brains used in declining this one.. As long as apple replaces my battery in warranty for free i dont care if i have to pay for OOW as long as its just the cost of the battery not shipping, labour, and hardware...

Sep 26, 2008, 11:15 AM	#20
jmorrison0722 macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Cupertino	hmmm I must admit I'm not a fan of apple's battery philosophy, but they clearly explain it up front. When the battery doesn't perform, they fix the device. They are doing right by the customer. Besides, they do provide a dock connector for 3rd party charging devices / external batteries.

Sep 26, 2008, 11:26 AM	#21
iSightG5 macrumors newbie Join Date: Mar 2008	Doesnt the iphone have a dual battery setup or was that ditched before the first gen launched? I remember when they announced the iphone they mentioned that it would have a battery for the ipod portion and one for the phone, yet there is only one battery indicator. __________________ iMac:G5 2.1iPhone:3G Black 16GBiPod:Shuffle 1GB Camera:Nikon D40/18-55mm/35mm f1.8G

Sep 26, 2008, 11:56 AM	#23
kerryn macrumors member Join Date: Apr 2007	While it is annoying that the battery is not user replaceable, with that said I have never needed to replace a battery on a cell phone. In the end, common sense prevailed.

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