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Apple Being Sued Based on Greenpeace iPhone Report

Nicolasdec said:
Could this mean that the EU launch of the iphone could be delayed?
Click to expand...

Either yes, or Apple will quickly fix it and release the iPhone on time, replacing all the bad ear buds with new ones.

Sounds like a delay may happen if this reaches court, unless Apple clearly labels the iPhone (Which Apple won't do because it'll ruin their image).

The Center for Environmental Health wants Apple to clearly label the iPhone saying that it contains phthaltes, but ultimately it wants the company to get rid of them altogether.
Click to expand...
 
Buried deep in the report:

Greenpeace said:
These figures[referring to the levels of phthalates], together with the
presence of high levels of chlorine, strongly indicate that the
headphone cable is made of PVC, plasticised with phthalates
including those banned for use in toys and childcare articles
in the EU10.
Click to expand...

and

Greenpeace said:
These phthalates are prohibited from use in all toys or
childcare articles put on the market in Europe (with a limit of
0.1% by weight), according to Directive 2005/84/EC.
Click to expand...

and

Greenpeace said:
The
two other phthalates found in the headphones sold with the
iPhone (DiNP and DiDP) are prohibited under the same
Directive from use in toys and childcare articles if they can be
placed in the mouth by children. Although it is unclear
whether headphones from an iPod or iPhone could ever be
classified as components of toys or childcare articles, it is
clear that the presence of high levels of phthalates in such
materials could contribute to overall levels of exposure to
such chemicals for the user, including children.
Click to expand...


So let's single out the iPhone for chemicals in the headphone cable that are only too high if they are being used for children's toys or childcare articles.

What a lame attempt at capturing headlines with a complete non-story.

btw for those of you who feel like reading the entire report rather than the news reports on it:

http://www.greenpeace.org/raw/content/usa/missed-call-the-iphone-s-haza.pdf
 
Shanesan said:
Either yes, or Apple will quickly fix it and release the iPhone on time, replacing all the bad ear buds with new ones.

Sounds like a delay may happen if this reaches court, unless Apple clearly labels the iPhone (Which Apple won't do because it'll ruin their image).
Click to expand...

Look like more lawsuits coming.
 
snook911 said:
The problem is not in the ear buds it's in the internal wiring of the iphone that leads to the ear piece. Not such a quick fix.
Click to expand...

you mean like...if you have kids, throw the earbuds away and buy a new set that comply with EU regulations on children's toys or childcare articles?

Oh the horror!

If Greenpeace really cared, which they don't, they would provide a link for alternative earphones which comply with the regulations so that parents who are iPhone users can have that option.
 
To clarify a few things it looks like:

1) Greenpeace is not suing, its the CEH who is just hijacking greenpeace's research.

2) I'm not sure why PC World threw in the EU reference, since it looks like this is a US centric case.

3) If the toxic levels are too high for the device to be used by children, I wouls assume Apple can sidestep subsequently litigation (at least in the EU) by marking the box with a warning that its not a toy. I wouldn't worry about a UK delay.

But other than that, parents just need shoulder some responsibility and make sure your kids don't eat the ear-buds.
 
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