The B.C. Supreme Court has given the green light to a nationwide multimillion-dollar resolution of an Apple class action lawsuit concerning software updates that purportedly decelerated older iPhones.
“We’re pleased with the results,” remarked K.S. Garcha, a legal representative for the class. “It was a complex matter.”
All details: Apple class action lawsuit
Garcha conveyed in an interview that the settlement received the judicial nod at a hearing held on Tuesday.
Those who qualify as class members and file claims on the $14.4-million settlement may anticipate compensation ranging between $17.50 and $150 each, contingent upon the volume of claims submitted, he noted. This Apple class action lawsuit encompasses eligible Canadians across the country, excluding Quebec, encompassing approximately nine million individuals, as stated by Garcha.
The process of reaching a settlement spanned a couple of years, during which Apple consented to a “compromise” without conceding any wrongdoing, Garcha elucidated. Opting for litigation rather than settlement could have prolonged the legal process significantly, he underscored.
“The court may not approve some of the claims that you’re making, there’s an issue with regards to how the damages were quantified, there are potential appeals,” he stated.
Garcha further added that the company “vigorously defended the thing up until the settlement negotiations.” He outlined that the Apple class action lawsuit introduced fresh legal theories concerning the company’s installation of software on devices without the owners’ authorization.
Individuals who owned iPhone models encompassed by the settlement have a six-month window to submit claims, and the online procedure necessitates providing personal details such as name, address, and iPhone serial number. Claimants are also required to attest under oath that they downloaded or installed certain software updates on various iPhone 6 and 7 models before December 21, 2017, and subsequently experienced reduced performance on the device following the installation or download of the pertinent iOS version.
Apple’s agreement to settle will result in the company disbursing between $11,137,500 and $14,427,500 contingent upon the number of claims validated. The claims portal for the “Canadian iPhone Power Management Class Action” specifies that Quebec residents are excluded from the settlement due to an ongoing separate case in the province’s courts.
The iPhone throttling settlement started way back
The B.C. lawsuit was initially initiated in 2018, and Apple resolved a similar case in the United States involving the alleged throttling of iPhone 6 and 7 models. Garcha disclosed that American class members received payouts of US$92.
During a hearing in Vancouver in late January, Apple’s legal representative Jill Yates asserted before the court that the company has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
“Apple, throughout, has taken a position that it has done nothing wrong here,” she emphasized. “These claims are novel and they are not ones where Apple agrees that anything was wrongfully done.”
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Is Apple fined?
There is no indication that Apple has been fined. The focus is on the approval of a multimillion-dollar Apple class action lawsuit concerning iPhone software updates. While eligible class members may receive compensation, the company denies any wrongdoing throughout the legal process.
As the dust settles on this legal story, the absence of fines from Apple doesn’t overshadow the significance of the settlement’s approval. It signifies a crucial step forward in addressing consumer grievances and holding tech giants accountable for their actions. With compensation now on the horizon for eligible claimants, the outcome underscores the power of collective action and the importance of transparency and integrity in the technology sector.
Featured image credit: Tyler Lastovich/Unsplash
