Apple settles Australian iPad 4G case for $2.25M

After an Australian commission filed a complaint alleging Apple violated the country's consumer law by misleadingly labeling its iPad as 4G-capable, the computer giant agrees to settle.

by Dara Kerr

June 7, 2012 8:33 PM PDT Follow @darakerr

(Credit: CNET Asia)

Apple has agreed to pay a $2.25 million settlement today for allegedly misbranding its third-generation iPads in Australia's online store, according to the Apple news blog 9to5Mac.

The complaint was brought by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in March and alleged that the computer giant violated the country's consumer law by misleadingly labeling its new iPad as 4G-capable -- the crux being that there aren't any 4G networks compatible with the device in Australia. The branding specifically said, "Wi-Fi + 4G."

"The ACCC alleges that Apple's recent promotion of the new 'iPad with WiFi + 4G' is misleading because it represents to Australian consumers that the product 'iPad with WiFi + 4G' can, with a SIM card, connect to a 4G mobile data network in Australia, when this is not the case," the ACCC wrote in a statement in March.

After some back-and-forth and a whole slew of European countries piggy-backing on the commission's complaint, Apple conceded to re-branding the iPads as "Wi-Fi + Cellular." However, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission carried on with the court case.

According to 9to5Mac, the judge ruling over the case has not yet given final approval for the settlement.