News - Apple loses court battle over 3G and is fined by Australia over 4G

[HEXUS]

Not the firm's best day, hopefully may help it to re-evaluate its IP policy.

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[saltyzip]

This is much welcome news.

[Noli]

£1.5 million? That's a drop in the ocean to Apple and probably confirms to them that the extra sales gained through misleading consumers is worth more than the cost of the fine, thereby encouraging such things in future. They're clever enough to design the ipad, they're clever enough to do some cost benefit analysis...

[GeorgeStorm]

I must admit, that doesn't seem very much since Apple are so stupidly rich....

[aidanjt]

Couldn't happen to a nicer company.

[kopite]

as has been mentioned its a very small amount for a company like apple and I cant see it acting as a deterrant to them in the future.

Although apple where naughty in misselling the whole 4g needs clarification as From what I can gather the 4g networks in american arent true 4g networks as per the spec laid down..

[dangel]

It's not the fine that hurts, it's BEING fined in the first place - and I agree, it's a deterrent because a repeat offence will attract far worse measures (and the publicity with it). Apple invest a lot in their image and this sort of thing does them no good (much like the constant legal battles overall - we're all sick of it now). Of course, they're practically teflon coated though..

[Hicks12]

good stuff, i do feel it should be more but i guess its something especially since the 4g shouldnt have took that many sales (i dont know many people who could care about 4g vs 3g in terms of ipad) but then again the 4g marketing could have taken potential sales from other tablets as people see them less superior .

But regardless, its finally happening the cracks are forming in Apple, should have learnt to play nicer.

[cameronlite]

It's not the fine that hurts, it's BEING fined in the first place - and I agree, it's a deterrent because a repeat offence will attract far worse measures (and the publicity with it). Apple invest a lot in their image and this sort of thing does them no good (much like the constant legal battles overall - we're all sick of it now). Of course, they're practically teflon coated though..

Even teflon burns with enough heat.

[crossy]

It's not the fine that hurts, it's BEING fined in the first place - and I agree, it's a deterrent because a repeat offence will attract far worse measures (and the publicity with it). Apple invest a lot in their image and this sort of thing does them no good (much like the constant legal battles overall - we're all sick of it now). Of course, they're practically teflon coated though..

This!

We can only hope that as Apple realises that it's not all win win win, in the patent world, that the firm will re-evaluate its stance on IP and find a more amicable solution to the mess it has played a large part in creating.

Nice thought, but personally I can't see it happening because - let's be honest - Apple probably spend more than the fine in buying pens and paper. Damn shame, because I suspect that a lot of the bad feeling they've got in the tech-savvy community is down to the writ-flinging. Heck, for myself, (and I've said this before), I'd have more respect for them if they followed Microsoft down the "license our IP" route rather than the outright bans Apple seem to prefer. Oh, and stop trying to patent/copyright the bleedin' obvious!

[funke_munke]

1.5 million from a company with 80 billion in cash reserves alone... This stuff should be percentage-based.

[3dcandy]

good start though...perhaps they'd be less inclined to sue everybody every time if they started losing these cases...

[McEwin]

It was a bit of false advertising in Australia - don't see why the fine should be astronomical just because of their global success!? I don't like Apple products or attitude but lets put the fine into perspective with the crime.

[kellen32]

am i the only one to find it really satisfying to see a big blow to a big company >

[cameronlite]

It was a bit of false advertising in Australia - don't see why the fine should be astronomical just because of their global success!? I don't like Apple products or attitude but lets put the fine into perspective with the crime.

It should be based on the company income, otherwise there's no real punishment. It's like taking the computer away from your misbehaving teenagers when they have smartphones...

Fines really should scale - otherwise there's no incentive to not reoffend.

[Mini_Me]

Agree with cameron. £1.5m isn't even a dent in terms of Apple's finance.