Apple extends Italian hardware warranties to two years

HARDWARE DESIGNER Apple has been forced to highlight the two year warranty on its products that is mandated by European Union consumer law by the Italian consumer association.

Apple has been offering punters only a one year warranty with the option to extend that through the paid-for Applecare service.

In a statement the association said that it is pleased with the changes and glad that Apple will stop "misleading" consumers about its Applecare offer, and makes it clear that the care package comes on top of a legally prescribed two year warranty. It requests that Apple extend the change to other European countries as well.

"Good news for those who decide to buy an Apple product on the Italian site or in one of the Apple store[s] in Italy," it said.

"The Cupertino company has changed the misleading information on its website about the Italian guarantee of conformity of the products. We ask that the same change is made in the rest of Europe where, for the moment, everything has remained the same."

The consumer association Altroconsumo said that Apple is changing the text on its Italian website to reflect this. Apple was facing fines of up to €300,000 if it did not comply.

Altroconsumo added that the pan European consumer association Beuc would like to see the change made across all of Apple's websites. µ