The Italian Anti-trust Authority announced this morning that it has, indeed, fined Apple Incorporated roughly ?00,000, about $1.2 million, concerning its handling of consumer 1)guarantees. The country’s Anti-trust Authority said Apple had failed to inform shoppers of their legal right to two-years’ technical support, recognizing instead only a 1-year standard 2)warranty. It said the firm’s action had led people to pay extra for Apple’s own support service, which 3)overlapped, in part, with the free guarantee. It has stated that it fined the firm of ?00,000 for failing to recognize the length of the 4)statutory guarantee, this as set out in Italy’s consumer code, either on its website or at point of sale. It said that a further ?00,000 penalty was issued because the firm had 5)gone on to offer its Apple Care Protection Plan. The Anti-trust Authority stated the information provided about…the service and the lack of 6)clarification about customers’ rights, combined to 7)induce consumers to sign an additional contract. Apple has yet to issue any comment regarding this matter.
意大利反垄断机构今天上午宣布，已就消费者保障问题向苹果公司罚款约90万欧元，约合120万美元。意大利反垄断机构称，苹果公司未向消费者说明法定的两年产品质保期，而仅承认一年的标准质保期。该机构称苹果公司的行为导致消费者为苹果本身的支持服务支付额外的费用，而这里面有一部分是与免费保修的内容重叠的。反垄断机构指出，苹果公司被罚款40万欧元，因为它未承认法律规定的质保期限，这在意大利消费法里是有明文规定的，无论是通过苹果公司网站或任意销售终端出售的苹果产品都受此约束。此外，另外50万欧元罚款是由于苹果公司同时还误导消费者购买苹果全方位技术支持方案。反垄断机构指出，苹果公司对提供的服务信息，以及对消费者权利阐明的欠缺，这两者相结合误导消费者签署了额外的合约。目前为止，苹果公司还未就此事发表任何评论。