SAO PAULO (Reuters) – A Brazilian court on Thursday fined Apple Inc 100 million reais ($19 million) and ruled that battery chargers must come with new iPhones sold in the country.
The Sao Paulo state court ruled against Apple in a lawsuit, filed by the association of borrowers, consumers and taxpayers, that argued that the company commits abusive practices by selling its flagship product without a charger.
Apple said it will appeal the decision.
Previously, the tech firm argued that the practice had the purpose of reducing carbon emissions.
“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,” said the court’s decision.
($1 = 5.2622 reais)
(Reporting by Beatriz Garcia; Writing by Peter Frontini; Editing by David Gregorio)