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Apple Settles Class Action Suit Regarding iPhone 4 Antenna

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Apr 12, 2001
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CNet reports that Apple has settled a class action suit over the iPhone 4's antenna.
The settlement comes from 18 separate lawsuits that were consolidated into one. All share the claim that Apple was "misrepresenting and concealing material information in the marketing, advertising, sale, and servicing of its iPhone 4--particularly as it relates to the quality of the mobile phone antenna and reception and related software."
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When the iPhone 4 launched in 2010, some customers were affected by low signals and dropped calls that were believed to be related to the iPhone 4's external antenna. At the time, Apple's response was a press conference as well as a refund offer for iPhone 4 customers or free bumper cases.

Based on the preliminary approval, U.S. residents who bought the iPhone 4 will be entitled to $15 in cash or a bumper case provided by Apple. The lawyers claim that the 25 million customers may be eligible.

Update: The Loop's Jim Dalrymple has obtained a statement from Apple on the settlement:
"This settlement relates to a small number of customers who indicated that they experienced antenna or reception issues with their iPhone 4 and didn't want to take advantage of a free case from Apple while it was being offered in 2010," Apple spokeswoman Natalie Harrison told me on Saturday.
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Article Link: Apple Settles Class Action Suit Regarding iPhone 4 Antenna
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/02/18/apple-settles-class-action-suit-regarding-iphone-4-antenna/
MacRumors is more often MacInvestigationLawsuitsScandals.

Part n' parcel of big business.
 
Uhm.... Apple already gave out free cases for iPhone 4 purchasers (the app is still in my itunes purchase history), why do they have to give out more?
 
troop231 said:
Uhm.... Apple already gave out free cases for iPhone 4 purchasers (the app is still in my itunes purchase history), why do they have to give out more?
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That was only for people who bought within the first few months.
 
troop231 said:
Uhm.... Apple already gave out free cases for iPhone 4 purchasers (the app is still in my itunes purchase history), why do they have to give out more?
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We don't know the full terms of the settlement. It may very well be that those who received a free case from Apple are specifically excluded. But even if that is not the case Apple "has" to do it because that is the settlement it agreed to, and the presiding judge affirmed it.
 
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BanterClaus said:
Shame its only US consumers. I wouldn't have minded $15 for doing nothing...
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Are you grabbing the $15 rightfully and in clear conscience that your phone dropped calls because of the way you were holding it?

I refuse to accept this money out of principal:

1. They already gave a free bumper

2. I had plenty of time to return it (just like everybody else)

3. I never had a dropped call or no signal because of that stupid antenna design. Not once.

I don't feel right taking this money...
 
troop231 said:
Uhm.... Apple already gave out free cases for iPhone 4 purchasers (the app is still in my itunes purchase history), why do they have to give out more?
Click to expand...

Will this apply to the Verizon iPhone 4? If so, we haven't gotten anything like free cases that AT&T did.
 
I wouldn't mind another free case. My bumper case is all worn out now, and my Griffin one is doing an alright job but could do with begin replaced soon.

I'm a sucker for a bargain.
 
This is exactly why you don't give design artists like Jony Ive a free hand in every design decision.
 
Once again, only the lawyers gets the real money and the consumers get $15. That's after you filled out bunch of paper and find your proof of purchase.
 
Nice...both my wife and I have iPhone 4's and we've never had one ounce of trouble with the antenna. Now we get a free iPhone case too!

Honestly, wonder why they settled. This was one of the biggest non-issues that was blown out of proportion than just about anything in recent memory.
 
ksgant said:
Nice...both my wife and I have iPhone 4's and we've never had one ounce of trouble with the antenna. Now we get a free iPhone case too!

Honestly, wonder why they settled. This was one of the biggest non-issues that was blown out of proportion than just about anything in recent memory.
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I don't think they would give out potentially hundreds of millions of dollars unless there was a decent chance of losing the case. Then again only a fraction of those eligible will claim the money.
 
There was a time limit on the offer for a free bumper from Apple, and as one of the people who purchased an iPhone 4 the first day it was available, I ended up missing it (my fault). I'll take the $15.00
 
Seriously disgusting to read comments from people who have zero problems with their phone gladly accepting $15 from Apple. :rolleyes:

Does this apply to Verizon iPhone 4? Or was the antenna already redesigned by the time the Verizon phone went on sale?
 
profets said:
I wonder how much the lawyers will get?
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xlii said:
The real winners are the lawyers.
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Probably 33% of the settlement fund but why does it matter? Class actions like this are brought when the wrong isn't large enough that individual class members could afford to prosecute their own suits. This allows the company to be punished for small design defects; otherwise, companies would always get away with small design defects that only resulted in small damages.

Are there examples of abuse? Sure, look at the nutella class actions. Is this an example of an abuse of the system? No.

Just because a wrong is individually small doesn't mean it shouldn't be redressed.
 
So the Verizon CDMA phones don't get the dough. Well that stinks. I was going to use it to buy a whole half pound of the coffee beans I use for espresso.:rolleyes:

DARN...:p
 
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