The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) [official website] filed suit against Apple [corporate website] on Thursday alleging [press release] that the company made “false, misleading, or deceptive representations” to consumers. The allegations stem from an investigation into reports of devices being disabled after downloading an operating system update. The ACCC claims that the company denied specific devices, which had been previously repaired by third parties, a free remedy. “Denying a consumer their consumer guarantee rights simply because they had chosen a third party repairer not only impacts those consumers but can dissuade other customers from making informed choices about their repair options including where they may be offered at lower cost than the manufacturer.” The ACCC said it found that Apple had a practice of refusing usual services to devices repaired by third parties.

Apple has been part of numerous recent, high-profile legal proceedings. Last month a Beijing IP Court ruled [JURIST report] that Apple’s iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus did not infringe on patents held by the Shenzhen Baili Marketing Services Co., a Chinese manufacturer which is now “defunct.” Earlier that month a Federal court overturned [JURIST report] a Texas District Court decision awarding Smartflash LLC a $533 million patent verdict against the company. In January the US Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit vacated [JURIST report] its damages determination in the longstanding patent lawsuit between Samsung and Apple.