A lawyer representing a group of iPhone owners announced that a British Columbia judge has approved a multimillion-dollar settlement with Apple over allegations that software updates slowed down older devices. The settlement, valued at $14.4 million, will provide class members with payouts ranging from $17.50 to $150, based on the number of claims submitted. However, residents of Quebec are not eligible for this settlement, which could impact up to nine million Canadians.
The lawyer, K.S. Garcha, stated that the settlement process took a couple of years, with Apple agreeing to the terms without admitting any wrongdoing. The lawsuit involved legal theories about Apple installing software on devices without the owners’ consent, making it a complex matter. The original lawsuit was filed in 2018 in British Columbia, and a similar case in the United States involving iPhone 6 and 7 models was settled by Apple, with American class members receiving $92 in payouts.
The settlement covers eligible residents across Canada, excluding Quebec, offering them the opportunity to claim their share of the $14.4-million settlement. The class-action lawsuit, originally filed in 2018, made headlines for its unique legal arguments and ultimately led to a compromise reached between Apple and the plaintiffs. Despite the settlement, Apple did not admit any wrongdoing in the case.