Apple has agreed to pay $53 million to settle a class action lawsuit accusing the Cupertino company of refusing to support iPhone and iPod touch warranties. This means that hundreds of thousands of Apple customers will receive a payment, worth up to $200 depending on the case, in the event of the company refusing to repair or replace defective devices while they are still under warranty.
The settlement will be filed in a San Francisco court in the coming weeks, according to Wired, which has obtained a copy of the agreement signed by Apple and its chief counsel Noreen Krall. Despite agreeing to pay $53 million, Apple does not admit to the wrongdoings that led to the settlement, which needs judge approval.
The lawsuit alleged that Apple refused to honor warranties on iPhones and iPods, no matter how bad they were, if its technicians found that the white indicator tape embedded in them had turned red or pink, indicating they may have been damaged by liquid. However, the tape's manufacturer, 3M, has said that moisture and contact with water could not have caused the color change.
