Judge tosses lawsuit over strength of iPhone 4 glass
updated 05:05 pm EDT, Thu September 6, 2012
Claims it's 'well known' that glass can break
A US District Judge, Edward Davila, has thrown out a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of iPhone 4 owners. Initially launched by Californian Betsalel Williamson, the suit complained that Apple misrepresented the strength of the glass in the device. Williamson says that after knocking a new iPhone 4 off the arm of a chair, the device broke, "resulting in spider cracks across the back glass panel" which forced him to get a replacement.
In his ruling, Davila states that "it is a well known fact of life that glass can break under impact," and that a phone without a case is inherently more prone to such damage. More significantly, the judge argues that the plaintiffs failed to prove that Apple had violated any California consumer protection or warranty laws.
When Apple launched the iPhone 4 in 2010, it made the Corning Gorilla Glass used in the product a major marketing point. Videos, for instance, showed it bending without breaking, something impossible with most glass. Many people have had their phones break since however, and the iPhone 5 appears to be switching to a primarily metal back.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: 04-14-05
My back glass broke too when I dropped it on concrete (no case). Cost me $30 to have the glass replaced at the Apple store. Why did this guy need a replacement for his phone (isn't that what they're implying)?