The “Batterygate” case has resurfaced, with Apple agreeing to pay between $310 million and $500 million to settle a lawsuit. The company was accused of slowing down older iPhone performance through updates to its iOS mobile platform, with around three million people set to benefit from the compensation. Although Apple did not accept responsibility, a legal agreement was reached to compensate affected users, who can no longer sign up for claims as the deadline expired on October 6, 2020. In response to the controversy, Apple lowered the price of iPhone battery replacements to $29.00 USD in 2018 and has already begun making payments under the agreement.
However, Apple faces another legal battle at the start of the new year, with shares dropping as a result. The company is embroiled in a patent dispute with medical device manufacturer Masimo, which initially led to a ban on sales of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in the US. This measure was temporarily suspended by a US appeals court late last year, and Apple is now responding to the International Trade Commission’s decision to oppose a stay on the ban. Masimo’s shares fell in New York after the court’s temporary lifting of the sales ban, reflecting the ongoing legal disputes impacting Apple.