Apple sued over hearing loss in iPod buyers
Yet another addition to the idiots that are the reason we have so many problems in the USA. Litigation happy attorneys and morons who file this kind of lawsuit should themselves be thrown in jail for wasting tax dollars on foolish things like this.
So this idiot files a law because Apple doesn't adorn their product with warning labels that playing your iPod too loud is bad for your hearing. Does any normal competent adult actually need to be told this? Like everyting else in this society, people just refuse to accept any responsibility for their own actions and expect others to pay for their stupidity. So wait, I guess I should go sue the US Navy for exposing me to all the jet noise for the years I served in the Navy huh? Or wait, maybe I should sue the National Guard because firing my weapon made too much noise and scared me. Come on people....when are we going to say enough is enough and just slap these morons silly and be done with it? The full story is after the jump...
MercuryNews.com | 02/01/2006 | Apple sued over hearing loss in iPod buyers:
Apple sued over hearing loss in iPod buyers
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - An owner of Apple Computer Inc.'s iPod music player filed a federal lawsuit against the computer maker, claiming the device causes hearing loss in people who use it.
The portable music players are ``inherently defective in design and are not sufficiently adorned with adequate warnings regarding the likelihood of hearing loss,'' according to the complaint, which seeks class action status. The suit, filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Calif., seeks compensation for plaintiffs' hearing loss and upgrades that will make the iPods safer.
Apple has sold more than 42 million of the devices since they went on sale in 2001, including 14 million in the fourth quarter last year. The devices can produce sounds of more than 115 decibels, a volume that can damage the hearing of a person exposed to the sound for more than 28 seconds per day, the complaint states.
Although the iPod is more popular than other types of portable music players, its ability to cause noise-induced hearing isn't any higher, experts said.
``We have numerous products in the marketplace that have the potential to damage hearing,'' said Deanna Meinke, a professor of audiology at the University of Northern Colorado. ``The risk is there but the risk lies with the user and where they set the volume.''
Apple spokeswoman Kristin Huguet declined to comment.
The Cupertino-based company ships a warning with each iPod that cautions ``permanent hearing loss may occur if earphones or headphones are used at high volume.''
Apple was forced to pull the iPod from store shelves in France and upgrade software on the device to limit sound to 100 decibels, but has not followed suit in the United States, according to the complaint. White headphones commonly referred to as ear buds, which ship with the iPod, also contribute to noise-induced hearing loss because they do not dilute the sound entering the ear and are closer to the ear canal than other sound sources, the complaint states.
Apple has also contributed to hearing loss in iPod users by including phrases such as ``crank up the tunes'' and ``bring in the noise'' in lesson manuals related to the device, according to the complaint.
Comments
Yup, its official... Common Sense is dead in America. I feel like filing a lawsuit against the guy who filed the iPod lawsuit because filing the suit and having Apple have to respond will raise my price as a consumer.
I mean - come on. Can't wait until belts have labels on them that say "warning - if you wrap this around your neck, affix it to an immovable object and then hang from it, you may hang yourself".
Give me a break, already.
Posted by: Chris | February 18, 2006 9:12 PM