Did you buy a MacBook that had keyboard issues? If so, you may be eligible for a portion of a $50 million settlement that Apple agreed to In response to the allegations, it had a keyboard design flaw well known to customers.
Apple agreed to the multimillion-dollar payment in July, and a California court granted preliminary approval on Nov. 1. 28.
MacBook Pro owners have started receiving emails and postcards letting them know they’re eligible for payment, and the settlement website began accepting claims on December 12. 1 2.
Below, find out more about the MacBook settlement, including who is eligible for the money, how much you could get from Apple, and how to submit a claim.
For more class actionsfind out why Keurig pays $10 million to users of his K-Cups and see if you are eligible to receive money from T-Mobile $350 million data breach settlement.
What is Apple accused of in the class action?
Apple introduced its “butterfly” keyboard design in 2015 in its 12-inch MacBook. The keys were attached with a wing-like hinge, unlike traditional keyboards, which use two pieces of plastic that, when pressed, intersect and close like a pair of scissors.
At the time, the tech giant said the butterfly design was 40% thinner, meaning its laptops could be too. But customers have complained about the keys’ propensity to be sticky and to miss or repeat typed characters.
The first generation butterfly keyboard of 2015.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Apple launched a repair program covering MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air laptops in 2018. But it only replaced old butterfly keyboards with new ones.
Finally, in 2019, Apple deleted the butterfly design and introduced a redesigned magic keyboard which once again relied on a scissor switch mechanism.
The butterfly design “had some things it did really well,” Phil Schiller, then Apple’s chief marketing officer says CNET This year. “It felt firmer and flatter under your finger – some people really like it, but others weren’t really happy with it.”
Schiller also acknowledged that there were “some quality issues that we needed to work on.”
In a class action Filed in California in 2018a group of plaintiffs claimed Apple knew about the quality issues and “fraudulently concealed” them from customers.
As a result, they claimed, laptops were knowingly equipped with keyboards that could result in “characters repeating unexpectedly; letters or characters not appearing; and/or keys being ‘sticky’ or unresponsive. not consistently”, according to the settlement website.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment, but in filings it denied any wrongdoing.
Who is eligible for payment from Apple?
If you bought a MacBook between 2015 and 2019 and had to replace the keyboard or individual keys, you are entitled to compensation.
If you are unsure if your model is covered, you can check here.
How much money can I get from the MacBook keyboard settlement?
The individual payment amount depends on the number of repairs you had to perform on your MacBook.
Consumers who had to trade in multiple keyboards within four years of purchase are considered Class 1 Settlement Class Members. They are eligible for an estimated payout between $300 and $395 and should receive an email this this month.
You can still qualify for Group 1 as long as you need two or more topcase replacements by November 1. 28, 2024. (The topcase houses the keyboard and other components.)
If you believe you are in Group 1 but have not received notification, you can call the Claims Administrator at 855-579-1311. (You can also fill in a change of address formif necessary.)
If you were to replace the keyboard once, you are considered part of the Group 2 settlement group and could receive up to $125. However, you will need to submit a claim form.
And if you only had to replace individual keys, you’re entitled to up to $50. (You will also need to submit a claim form.)
How do I file a claim under the Apple Butterfly Keyboard Settlement?
You can file a complaint on the settlement website or send a completed form to:
Subject: MacBook Keyboard Dispute Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
Box 91341
Seattle, WA 98111
For all Class Members, if Apple does not have a record of your repair or purchase, you will need to provide proof of purchase or repair.
The deadline to file a claim is March 6, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PT. If you wish to object to the settlement — or exclude yourself and retain the right to separate disputes – the deadline for notifying the court is February 1. 10, 2023.
When will I receive my money?
A final approval hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2023. All payments would be made after that, but the process could be delayed by appeals.
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