Apple withdraws Italian product warranties after government complaints

Apple has moved to stop selling AppleCare warranties in its Italian stores following threats from an Italian antitrust watchdog, according to reports.

Italian antitrust watchdog AGCM had threatened to fine and temporarily shutdown Apple operations unless the iPad maker agreed to stop selling its product warranties in store.

Acccording to Reuters, AGCM alleged that Apple was tricking customers into buying a warranty by not properly explaining that Apple products were already guaranteed a free two-year warranty option.

Italian law compels vendors to offer a free two-year warranty on certain electronic products.

AGCM had already fined Apple €900,000 over the use of its warranty last December.

Following that fine, Apple's website was forced to include a disclaimer clearly stating that Italian consumers are guaranteed a free two-year warranty on their products. Apple will still have the right to sell its advanced warranty on its Italian website.

This isn't the first time Apple has faced legal issues in Italy. Earlier this year Samsung attempted to get the iPhone 4S banned in Italy. The Italian patent case was one in many patent infringement cases involving Samsung and Apple that are currently going on around the globe.

Italy has also been a hotbed for antitrust cases in recent years. Last year, Italy's antitrust chief warned of a potential future Google monopoly. Giovanni Pitruzzella feared that Google's web search dominance would lead to the firm having a publishing monopoly.

Apple was unavailable for comment at the time publication.