Apple is already at the center of three major lawsuits, and it's only February.
A class-action suit was filed this week in California on behalf of angry iPhone owners who claim Apple's software update bricked devices following Touch ID repairs by an unauthorized dealer.
U.S. law firm Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala (PCVA) is seeking relief for the "Error 53" controversy on behalf of affected iPhone 6 owners. The code, included within iOS 8.0.1 and all subsequent versions (including iOS 9), automatically sends handsets into "recovery mode," which traps the device in an endless, unusable loop.
Apple reportedly told consumers that disabled phones could not be fixed under warranty, and were a "problem the consumer created" by using an unofficial repair service.
Though the issue, which Apple claims is a security measure, has existed since early last year, a recent Guardian report helped shine a spotlight on it.
Now, PCVA wants Apple to stop disabling iPhones patched by third parties, and provide a software update to fix those bricked devices. It is also asking Cupertino to pay for the repairs under warranty.
"As is invariably true of power and control, too much of a good thing becomes problematic and, even, abusive," the complaint said. "Apple's Error 53 code…represents Apple's control over the product gone too far."
iPhone owners (and their lawyers) aren't the only ones who think Cupertino has overstepped its boundaries.
Touch feedback tech developer Immersion filed a complaint with the U.S. International Trade Commission against Apple and AT&T, alleging patent infringement. A second complaint was filed against the same parties in the U.S. District Court of Delaware.
The lawsuits allege the Apple iPhone 6 and above and Apple Watch violate Immersion patents covering haptic feedback systems and methods in electronic devices. California-based Immersion is seeking cease and desist orders for the importation and sale in the U.S. of infringing devices. The company also hopes to recover damages.
"While we are pleased to see others in the industry recognize the value of haptics and adopt it in their products, it is important for us to protect our business against infringement of our intellectual property in order to preserve the ecosystem we have built and the investments that we have made in continuing to advance haptic experiences," Immersion CEO Victor Viegas said in a statement.
Source: pcmag.com
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