Apple receives US$19 million fine in Brazil for selling phones without a charger

Back in 2020, Apple introduced the iPhone 12 lineup and, since then, all new iPhones came without a bundled charger. Brazilian law had the company in its crosshairs since then and, yesterday, a ruling has been made and it doesn't look good for Apple. However, the US tech giant has the right to appeal the decision and has already confirmed that it will do so.

In an unlucky decision for Apple that came on the 13th of October, the company was fined the local equivalent of US$19 million and the court also ruled that all new iPhones to be sold in Brazil must come with battery chargers. The lawsuit was filed by the association of borrowers, consumers, and taxpayers and was handled by the Sao Paulo state court.

According to Apple, the decision to sell smartphones without chargers came with the goal to reduce carbon emissions, but the court saw it otherwise. "It is evident that, under the justification of a 'green initiative,' the defendant imposes on the consumer a required purchase of charger adaptors that were previously supplied along with the product," reads the court's decision. 

This is only the conclusion of the first chapter in this legal battle and we will probably hear more about it in the future, as Apple will use the right to appeal the aforementioned decision.

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