Keegan v Apple Computer, Inc.
iPod Users Angry at Apple Computer for Its Failure to Advertise Battery Lifespan
Has your iPod battery died? Several class actions have been filed against Apple Computer, Inc. on behalf of all purchasers of iPod digital music players, who allege that the device's battery wears out much more quickly than they were led to believe. The action alleges that the company violated state unfair competition and false advertising statutes. The action seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
The Cupertino, California maker of the Macintosh computer has been buoyed in recent quarters by robust sales of the iPod. Now users are complaining that the iPod battery wears out in only 18 months. Once the battery has failed, it will no longer take a charge at all. The iPod owner is then faced with a dilemma: pay $99 to have the battery replaced, or throw away their old iPod and buy a new one at $300 to $500. This might not have been a problem, except that Apple allegedly failed to warn its customers that they would have these recurring costs.
