Apple Pressurized As Lawyers Intend To Take Matters To Court Over Error 53 Code
Lawyers intend to legally challenge the smartphone maker for permanently disabling its repaired iPhone 6s after software upgrade.
Apple is pressurized to scrap its notorious policy of permanently disabling its repaired iPhone 6s when it upgrades its software. It faces a global backlash from consumers and accusations that it is acting illegally.
At least one American law firm said it expects to file a class action against Apple on behalf of victims whose smartphones worth $720.10 became useless due to the software upgrade by the company.
In the United Kingdom, a lawyer spoke to Guardian that the “reckless” policy of the smartphone maker to kill the iPhones followed by the software upgrade could possibly be considered as an offence according to the Criminal Damage Act 1971.
The law makes it illegal to destroy any other’s property intentionally. The Guardian reported on Friday how a large number of users of iPhone 6 discovered that the iOS upgrade permanently disabled their smartphone and displayed an “Error 53” code.
No action could be taken to get it restored to its working position. The iOS 9 software update, which was released past year will, in jargon, “brick” the smartphone if it succeeds in detecting that the home button and/or the touch fingerprint recognition isn’t original. Some victims got their smartphones mended by third-party contractors. Other users simply damaged their smartphone.
In majority of cases, the smartphone had worked normally for months or weeks before the upgrade of software causes shutdown. The technology giant has described it as a safety feature, but some suggested that a policy could have been formulated to add to sales revenues by compelling everyone who needs to repair home button to pay $339.89 charged by the organization in the United Kingdom.
Peoples with defected handsets complained at Apple stores. They were informed that no action could be taken and they should purchase a new smartphone. After Guardian published the story, the American law firm PCVA called victims to get in touch with intent to bring a class action lawsuit.
PCVA held the belief that Apple’s stance might have breached consumer protection rules in the United States and offers to provide representation to victims free of charge. Corporate management tries to calm the people over the matter.
If the company continues to implement its policy, multiple numbers of legal challenges might be faced by it. European Commission might also scrutinize it, which is currently looking how tax affairs are being managed by it along with other huge multinational technology enterprises.
