Apple to be Fined $1.2 Million in Italy Due to Alleged Non-Provision of Standard EU 2-Year Warranty

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Apple has been sued in Italy for not providing customers the standard two-year warranty mandatory within the European Union, and is being fined an equivalent of US$ 1.2 million. Apple plans to appeal this decision, and will still pursue selling their own AppleCare warranty.

Italian regulatory body Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato has imposed an equivalent $1.2 million dollar fine on Apple Sales International and Apple Retail Italy in the country for alleged “bad commercial practices that have harmed consumers.” The agency claims that Apple has erred by not providing the standard two-year warranty period mandated by law in the European Union, and has instead been pushing its own AppleCare warranty, an optional two-year extension which consumers buy at cost.

The regulatory body has asked Apple to cease the practice of their existing warranty policies, and discuss alternative courses of action with the Authority. In particular the regulator wants Apple to make a new policy consistent with EU laws, and notify customers thereof. It can be noted that their complaint lies with Apple allegedly not telling customers they have a right to free two-year guarantees when selling AppleCare.

Apple has confirmed that it will appeal the decision, noting that it does comply with Italian law. Apple denies that they have failed to advise customers of two-year warranties, and they only give a year, plus an AppleCare extension if purchased.

Meanwhile, Apple is involved in other legal arguments in the region relating to their iBooks e-book service, as the European Antitrust Commission has accused the company of “illegal agreements or practices” that restrict competition in the EU.