U.S. Courts: Due to the lack of evidence, the claim that iPhone waterproof misleads customers is not valid

IT House reported on February 3 that according to Reuters, a federal judge in the United States dismissed a proposed class action lawsuit accusing Apple of misleading customers in terms of the waterproofness of the iPhone.

Since the launch of the iPhone 7, Apple has widely promoted the water resistance of the iPhone in its marketing campaigns, including claims that certain models can soak for 30 minutes at a depth of 4 meters.

Two plaintiffs from New York and one from South Carolina filed a lawsuit against Apple in the South Side of New York for "false and misleading" misrepresentations that allegedly left Apple charging the iPhone "twice as much as an average smartphone." ”

Now, U.S. District Judge Denise Cote has ruled that while the plaintiffs reasonably claimed that Apple's ads might mislead some customers, they did not prove that their iPhones were damaged by Apple's promised "liquid contact." The judge has yet to find any evidence of fraud, citing a lack of evidence that Apple intentionally exaggerated its waterproof claims for commercial gain.

The court also ruled that there was insufficient evidence that the plaintiff relied on fraudulent marketing claims when choosing to purchase an iPhone. Lawyers representing the plaintiffs said his client was disappointed with the verdict and has not yet decided whether to appeal.

IT House understands that although the case has been dismissed, an Italian judge fined Apple $12 million in late 2020 for misleading customers about the iPhone's water resistance. The ruling explains that Apple did not properly clarify that its waterproofing statement was correct only under certain conditions, such as during controlled laboratory testing using static and pure water, and not under normal consumer conditions of use.

According to Apple, water and dust resistance are not permanent conditions and can deteriorate over time due to normal wear and tear. Apple's warranty also does not cover liquid damage, so it is best to be careful when touching liquids.