Apple bricking it?

News

Scott Bicheno Oct 12 2007, 12:15pm

Legal pressure grows over 'bricking' of unlocked iPhones.

There appear to be a growing number of people getting ready to sue Apple over its apparent policy of permanently disabling - 'bricking' - iPhones that have been unlocked when the owner downloads the latest software update.

As reported over a week ago by ME sister mag PC Retail, lawyer Damian Fernandez was touting for plaintiffs to sue Apple "alleging violations of California’s antitrust laws." A few days later he went ahead with it, having found aggrieved California resident Timothy Smith.

This case is being filed at state level and now there's one being filed at federal level too.

The firms of Hoffman & Lazear in Oakland and Folkenflik & McGerity in New York are acting on behalf of iPhone owners Paul Holman and Lucy Rivello respectively.

The results of these actions could have a profound effect on Apple's business model, not only its revenues shares with phone operators, but it's stranglehold on the software used on the iPhone and iPod touch. That's not even counting any damages it might have to pay to anyone who's had their iPhone bricked.

Additionally this could set a precedent across the consumer electronics sector, with many other companies restricting what users can do with technology after they've bought it.