Author Topic: Apple sued over iPod related hearing loss (Read 3966 times)

Foxy Brown · « **on:** February 06, 2006, 02:23:47 PM »

John Patterson of Louisana has filed a lawsuit against iPod maker Apple, claiming that the popular portable music players are "inherently defective in design and are not sufficiently adorned with adequate warnings regarding the likelihood of hearing loss." Patterson is asking for cash in unspecified quantity, and iPod upgrades designed to protect users from accidental hearing loss. Although Patterson himself does not claim to have actually suffered hearing loss, the complaint filed with the U.S. District Court in San Jose claims that the capacity of the device to exceed 115 decibels presents a legitimate risk.

type0- · « **Reply #1 on:** February 06, 2006, 02:49:30 PM »

another greedy bastard. how the hell do you sue for injuries you dont have. i hope he wins then goes deaf.

ebc · « **Reply #2 on:** February 06, 2006, 03:31:36 PM »

What about, he loses and still goes deaf?

lol it's the world we live in i guess, i'm not surprised this would happen really. common sense is just not common anymore

ctz · « **Reply #3 on:** February 06, 2006, 04:29:13 PM »

Yay! Decibel limits for iPods!

chocolate · « **Reply #4 on:** February 06, 2006, 05:42:29 PM »

Apple is already delimited volume in iPods sold in Europe.

frblckstr1 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 06, 2006, 06:38:12 PM »

Yes, the thing is in Europe there is a law that defines the maximum decibels a head/ear phone is allowed to produce, so I think its actually strange its not in the USA required also (thought it came from the USA!)

ctz · « **Reply #6 on:** February 06, 2006, 08:56:21 PM »

I didn't know they were already limiting decibels in Europe. I guess the limits aren't too low then... I have never heard anyone complaining about it.

JFC · « **Reply #7 on:** February 07, 2006, 12:44:58 AM »

Dumbass obviously doesn't know how to use the volume control.

JTRIX · « **Reply #8 on:** February 07, 2006, 12:58:17 AM »

Quote from: JFC

Dumbass obviously doesn't know how to use the volume control.

and often people did something wrong and then blime it on others!

shadowstar · « **Reply #9 on:** February 07, 2006, 03:00:41 PM »

say it with me...

V-O-L-U-M-E . C-O-N-T-R-O-L

some people are just dumb or greedy, or dumb AND greedy.

frblckstr1 · « **Reply #10 on:** February 07, 2006, 06:42:22 PM »

Quote from: arian

say it with me...

V-O-L-U-M-E . C-O-N-T-R-O-L

some people are just dumb or greedy, or dumb AND greedy.

Dumb buying an iPod yes, greedy? no because they pay way to much

Yes, volume control helps.
The problem with the volume limitted devices around here is, that when you have a somewhat different earplug (high impedance) the maximum reachable volume sometimes decreases, depending on the amp thats in the device.

yurinachan · « **Reply #11 on:** February 09, 2006, 07:38:25 AM »

its like the person that goes and eats fast food at McDonalds for a long time, finds out that he/she has heart disease and then sues McDonalds for millions. people need to take responsibility in their own actions. if a person gets hearing lost under normal use and not because of hardware defect, then its their fault all the way.

ahcheungape · « **Reply #12 on:** February 12, 2006, 07:32:32 AM »

this reminds me of this incident where a woman or a man sued McDonalds because their coffee were too HOT.

frblckstr1 · « **Reply #13 on:** February 12, 2006, 07:39:03 AM »

Quote from: ahcheungape

this reminds me of this incident where a woman or a man sued McDonalds because their coffee were too HOT.

Which it IS (at times) Some serve it so hot you can actually not drink it for minutes or you would burn yourself!

There is now another 'class action suite' where they want Apple to openup the iPod to other media formats.

Now if the iPod would play WMA's... yes I might consider getting me a 60GB version (although I have managed to compress all my 40GB music onto my 20GB Sony NWD5)

yurinachan · « **Reply #14 on:** February 12, 2006, 08:40:51 AM »

I burnt the inside of my mouth when drinking a hot apple cider from Starbucks. That is after I got warned by the Starbucks employee. Common sense kicks in and tells me that it was my stupidity that caused me to burn my mouth.

The moral of this story is not to sue others because of one's misuse of the product or ignoring warning.

suki* · « **Reply #15 on:** February 14, 2006, 07:36:30 AM »

It is precisely this kind of silly people that keeps me in business. Should I complain? Probably not. But I still think they are ridiculous.

Akito · « **Reply #16 on:** February 16, 2006, 03:39:04 AM »

I say its a plot by the music industry to shut down ipods.
Who else would do sumthing this stupid and get it through

frblckstr1 · « **Reply #17 on:** March 30, 2006, 12:29:25 PM »

W'll seems Apple gives in:

Quote

In an effort to shield itself from possible legal action, Apple announced the availability of a software update Wednesday that can set a maximum volume setting on the iPod. The update is available for fifth generation iPods and the iPod nano. Furthermore, parents could also set a maximum volume setting and lock it.

(and I read somewhere else that the units sold in Europe actually have this enabled/installed by default!)

Happosai · « **Reply #18 on:** March 30, 2006, 12:43:35 PM »

Quote from: frblckstr1

...
(and I read somewhere else that the units sold in Europe actually have this enabled/installed by default!)

That's true... but there's also a little software running around that "removes" this option.

So, we europeans can become deaf too !!!

JFC · « **Reply #19 on:** March 30, 2006, 08:24:38 PM »

Quote from: frblckstr1

W'll seems Apple gives in:

Quote
In an effort to shield itself from possible legal action, Apple announced the availability of a software update Wednesday that can set a maximum volume setting on the iPod. The update is available for fifth generation iPods and the iPod nano. Furthermore, parents could also set a maximum volume setting and lock it.

(and I read somewhere else that the units sold in Europe actually have this enabled/installed by default!)

Doesn't seem like too bad of an idea, at least for parents who buy these things for their kids.