Apple Gets iSued Over iPhone

We’ve finally reached the next stage in the Apple iPhone war. After a week of grumbling and threatening, the consumers have struck back, serving Apple with a lawsuit in response to the recent “bricking” of iPhones that were unlocked, allowing the phone to be used on networks other than the intended cellular provider: AT&T.

Apple threatened hackers and Mac fans that the company wouldn’t tolerate third party software being used to unlock the iPhone’s network compatibility. A few days later the company released a software update that fixed a few software glitches and also froze up hacked iPhones, rendering them about as useful as a brick. The debate over the iPhone suddenly became one of ownership rights: if a consumer purchases an iPhone, shouldn’t they have the right to do what they want with it, and, if not, should Apple just lease the iPhone instead of selling it, allowing them to keep a stronger hold on the device’s rights?

Now consumers are retaliating with a class-action lawsuit that claims Apple’s lockdown of the iPhone violates antitrust laws in the state of California. The claim is based on Apple’s partnership with AT&T, which prohibits the iPhone from being used on any other network. If the lawsuit is successful, Apple would have to remove the software lock that limits the iPhone to one carrier and would no longer be allowed to deny warranty coverage to iPhones “bricked” or unlocked without the company’s permission.

As PC World points out, this isn’t the first lawsuit over the iPhone. Apple was hit with charges when they reduced the price on the iPhone by $200 just a few months after the initial release, frustrating fans who waited in line and paid a much higher price for the unit. There have also been lawsuits over the iPhone’s design, specifically the inability for the average user to replace the battery.

It’ll be interesting to see where this goes. On one hand, you’d think a company like Apple would just buy its way out of this suit, but there are principles at stake here that consumers aren’t likely to let go of so easily. But how is the iPhone different from other network-limited devices, other than Apple’s retaliation against those who successfully unlock their cell phone? Most cell phone service providers sell phones that are limited to their network – a hard precedence to overlook in a case like this. This is definitely going to be a news story to keep an eye on because it really could affect consumer’s rights, how Apple and other companies treat consumers, and just how much hackers can get away with before they’ve voided a warranty.