Summary: A Seattle-based law firm is looking for class action plaintiffs whose iPhones were destroyed by a software update.
Seattle-based law firm PCVA is looking for class action plaintiffs who want to take a bite out of Apple, The Guardian reports.
Apple users are complaining because they say any time they use an outside vendor to fix their iPhones, their phones get an error, “Error 53,” after a software upgrade. This update permanently disables the phone, and consumer advocates say this is illegal. The Guardian broke the story last week, reporting that thousands of iPhone 6 users were victims of Error 53.
Photo courtesy of Apple.
According to The Guardian, PCVA said they want to bring a class action against Apple. The Error 53 occurs in iPhone 6 and its renditions like iPhone 6S.
PCVA’s website says that the attorneys of the firm “have a reputation for obtaining extraordinary results for clients who have been severely harmed or victimized by others. In the process, we have received a great deal of public attention for landmark cases that have either changed the law or changed the behavior of “untouchable” entities, like corporations…”
The Guardian also states that a UK barrister said Apple’s policy of killing phones is “reckless” and possibly illegal under the Criminal Damage Act 1971. The UK law says it is an offense to intentionally destroy someone else’s property.
Apple said that the software upgrade is a security feature. Essentially, it shuts down or “bricks” a phone that does not have the original fingerprint recognition or has the original home button. It also bricks phones that have damaged handsets.
Critics of Apple say that the move is more about increasing revenue. It forces users to only get repairs at Apple and denies them the right to go to third-parties, who are often cheaper. It also forces victims of Error 53 to buy new equipment.
PCVA says they will work for free to those who come forward.
“We believe Apple may be intentionally forcing users to use their repair services, which cost much more than most third-party repair shops. There is incentive for Apple to keep end users from finding alternative methods to fix their products. Think of it this way: let’s say you bought a car, and had your alternator replaced by a local mechanic. Under Apple’s strategy, your car would no longer start because you didn’t bring it to an official dealership. They intentionally disable your car because you tried to fix it yourself. That is wrong,” PCVA said.
According to The Guardian, Apple issued a statement on Saturday but has not commented further.
“This security measure is necessary to protect your device and prevent a fraudulent Touch ID sensor from being used. If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support,” Apple said in a statement.
Source: The Guardian