India's consumer protection regulator has launched a probe into Apple's software warranty terms, over claims iPhone users were paying exorbitant fees for repairs.
The Central Consumer Protection Agency of India is taking a close look at Apple's software warranty policies, continuing an investigation into repairs. The latest investigation accuses Apple of ripping off consumers through repairs.
It is a continuation of an investigation following the rollout of iOS 18 in 2024, which allegedly led to display and microphone issues, reports Reuters on Tuesday. The regulator received a large number of complaints that consumers were forced to pay for repairs.
The payments were apparently due to a lack of warranty on software, which could've feasibly allowed the repairs to be conducted without charging consumers.
This manifested in the form of green, pink, and white lines on iPhone displays seen after upgrades to iOS 18. To consumers in India, they faced paying service charges of 27,900 rupees ($291) to repair an iPhone 15 display.
The regulator got in contact with Apple on July 29, informing it had shifted to conducting a "detailed investigation." In the notice seen by Reuters, it involves "violations of consumer rights."
A smaller problem than implied
Apple reportedly responded on August 20, with a letter advising that the lack of a warranty on software is in line with global industry standards. Also, Apple insists iOS 18 had no systemic issues.
The CCPA case is based on only 75 complaints, Apple said, pointing to the very small number of users who bothered to contact the CCPA on the issue.
The software license agreements also state they are "without warranty of any kind," with users advised that they bear the cost of repairs if there's an issue with the software. Furthermore, the limited warranty covers only hardware.
This clause wasn't unusual, Apple told investigators, and consumers were informed of that at the time of installation. The clause is not just used by Apple, as other manufacturers have similar language in their agreements.
By requiring all issues be treated as under an absolute warranty, that would effectively turn software developers into "an insurer against all technological risk," wrote Apple.