New Delhi: Apple has agreed to pay $50 million to settle US lawsuit over defective “butterfly” keyboards in MacBooks. A group of MacBook users filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple over the controversial butterfly keyboards in 2018, claiming the new design failed at even the tiniest dust particle around the switches. They claimed that the company hid that its butterfly keys were prone to failure.
The lawsuit affected those who bought an Apple MacBook with a butterfly keyboard in seven states: California, New York, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, Washington and Michigan. Apple later released an improved keyboard design in late 2019. (Also Read: Sensex Surges to 55,500 in Early Trading on Strong Global Markets)
Once the $50 million agreement is approved, those who replaced multiple keyboards can expect maximum payouts of $300 to $395, and those who replace one keyboard can receive $125, and those who replace the keycaps will get $50, reports CNBC.
Law firms Girard Sharp LLP and Chimicles Schwartz Kriner and Donaldson-Smith LLP may seek up to $15 million from the $50 million windfall to cover attorney fees. Apple had extended free key repairs for customers who bought MacBooks with butterfly keys for four years. (Also Read: How Much Salary Increases When 8th Salary Commission Introduces?)
The tech giant previously said a consolidated suit shouldn’t cover multiple changes to the butterfly keyboard. However, the plaintiffs argued that all butterfly keyboards could have the same fundamental problems due to their flat design and narrow spacing between keys.
Apple later launched a new MacBook Pro series with Magic Keyboard, now available across Apple’s line of laptops, touted as “the best typing experience ever on a Mac notebook.” The butterfly keyboard was slimmer than Apple’s previous design, which used industry-standard scissor switches.