Legal

FCC launches online ‘bill shock’ tool as carriers implement overage alerts

Christian Zibreg ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Despite best efforts to keep tabs on your wireless usage habits and keep that monthly bill within self-imposed limits, some of us continue to experience so-called 'bill shock', over and over again.

Thanks to a new online tool by The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and an agreement between major wireless operators and The CTIA Wireless Association (CTIA), you can now get information about carriers’ billing policies.

It also lets one check out the state of each carrier’s implementation of free alerts related to one's data, messaging, voice and international roaming usage.

So, is this going to suffice or are some of us going to continue getting bill shock’d each month?

Confident about its case, Apple wants trial on eBook price fixing allegations

Sébastien Page ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

Confident that the US Department of Justice's allegations that Apple sat down with book publishers to agree on eBooks prices are weak, the company wants to go to trial to defend itself, a lawyer for the company said today.

According to antitrust experts, the DoJ, which filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five other publishers last week has a weak case, and this probably explains why Apple is feeling so strong about the situation...

Apple forced to pay $7,500 over firebug iPod nano

Oliver Haslam ∙ April 15, 2012

Remember those 1st generation iPod nanos that Apple recalled recently? You know, the ones that were prone to overheating and, in extreme cases, catching fire? It turns out Apple didn't quite get them exchanged quickly enough.

A Japanese judge has ruled in favor of a couple from Tokyo who were unfortunate enough to own an original iPod nano, purchased in 2005. Five years later, the device was found to be getting unusually warm during charging and, once in the hands of a poor Japanese lady, burst into flames.

The result was badly burned hands which took a month to heal, and a court case which resulted in Apple being asked to cough up some cash by way of compensation...

Apple: we broke Amazon’s monopolistic grip on the publishing industry

Sébastien Page ∙ April 12, 2012

Almost 48 hours after the US Department of Justice filed an antitrust lawsuit against Apple and five publishers over alleged ebooks price fixing, Apple decided to break the silence and go on the record about the situation.

In a comment made to AllThingsD, Apple spokesman Tom Neumayr defends the company's position, claiming the following:

Apple and publishers nearing eBooks settlement with DOJ

Oliver Haslam ∙ March 31, 2012

It appears that Apple may avoid going head to head with the Department of Justice over possible eBook price fixing, with the news from Reuters that the company behind iBooks and publishers may be close to coming to an agreement with the DOJ.

Earlier this month it was suggested that Apple and book publishers had been colluding in order to fix the price of electronic books, and with Apple already in so many court rooms it is clear that the firm could do without having to fight on yet another front.

Even Apple can't take on everyone...

iTunes is the target of a new lawsuit

Oliver Haslam ∙ March 29, 2012

Apple is today finding itself on the wrong end of another lawsuit, with iTunes this time feeling the full force of America's somewhat broken patent system. As is the done thing these days, someone claiming to own a patent that may be infringed upon by a large company is seeking damages for said infringement.

According to a report in Computer World, a man named Benjamin Grobler believes that iTunes, along with Sony's PlayStation Network, infringes upon a patent he owns which covers a "data vending system."

This system allows the central hosting of apps, movies or music, with information on what a customer has already purchased already also being part of the system. Sound familiar? Yup, that's iTunes in the Cloud, then...

Swedish company claims to have a swipe patent that is used by Apple

Oliver Haslam ∙ February 28, 2012

While Apple seems all too keen on taking to the courts in order to protect its patents, it appears that it may be in the back foot in a new battle that has yet to even begin.

A Swedish firm claims to be in possession of a patent which relates to horizontal swiping and gliding, with Apple's slide-to-unlock gesture being one such example.

The firm, called Neonode, claims to have received the relevant patent during January of this year, and its head of IP, Yossi Shain, says that companies such as Sony and Barnes & Noble are already licensees...

Apple can continue to sell iPads in Shanghai

Guest Author ∙ Updated January 25, 2016

After their on-going legal hustle with Proview Technology, Asian Apple fans can rest assured that they'll still be able to buy the iPad in Shanghai, thanks to a ruling by the Shanghai Pudong New Area People's Court.

Just a few days ago we told you how Shenzhen based Proview were ready to negotiate with Apple over the alleged 'iPad' trademark infringement, however it now seems there will be no negotiating, not on Apple's behalf anyway...

Apple sued over voicemail patents

Jake Smith ∙ February 22, 2012

Adding to its large array of ongoing lawsuits, Apple has been sued by patent holding company Brandywine Communications Technologies over two voicemail patents. The lawsuit was filed in a local Florida court on Tuesday, reports GigaOm.

The patents in questions are No. 6,236,717 and No. 5,719,922, which were filed in 2001 and 1998 respectively by Brandywine. One patent is officially described as...

Saurik explains why jailbreaking should remain legal

Cody Lee ∙ February 20, 2012

Back in January we told you that the EFF (Electronic Frontier Foundation) was asking for everyone's help in its fight to keep jailbreaking legal. It suggested leaving a comment on the Copyright Office's comment board to show your support.

The board closed on February 10th, and the Copyright Office recently published everyone's entries. And even though there were only about 700 comments submitted, some big names turned out to defend jailbreaking, including Saurik...

US lawmakers want to look into Google’s iPhone tracking fiasco

Sébastien Page ∙ February 20, 2012

Last week Google was caught overriding Safari users' privacy settings, and now US lawmakers want the Federal Trade Commission to probe the company over it, as reported by Computer World:

Three lawmakers from the U.S. House of Representatives have asked the Federal Trade Commission to investigate whether last week's report of privacy violations of Safari users by Google violated a consent agreement the company had reached with the FTC last year.

Google's alleged circumvention of do-not-track controls on Apple's Safari browser could have a wide sweeping impact because Safari is a major web browser used by millions of Americans, according to a letter to the FTC on Friday from Republican Representatives Cliff Stearns of Florida and Joe Barton of Texas, and Democrat Edward Markey of Massachusetts.

That's definitely something we'll be following.

Apple seeking to sue the already bankrupt Kodak

Guest Author ∙ Updated April 27, 2017

Back in January we ran a story regarding the on-going legal issues between Apple and the 131 year old photography company Kodak. Back then, Kodak intended to file a patent infringement lawsuit against Apple, concerning 4 Kodak owned patents.

Just a little over a month on and the tables have well and truly been turned. According to the Rochester Business Journal, Apple is now seeking permission to file new patent-infringement claims against Eastman Kodak Co. Apple's counter-claim is that Kodak actually stole the idea for these patents in the first place...