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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes
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So, anyone received their $37.50 settlement for the iPod nano class-action lawsuit?

By | April 9, 2010, 5:24am PDT

Remember back when dinosaurs roamed and Apple released the first-generation iPod nano (that was 2005). Users were over the moon with the new micro iPod … right up until they realized that it was easier to scratch than a block of cheese. A class-action lawsuit was kicked off …

… five and a half years later owners of scuffed iPods, some of which were so fragile that they were scratched when wiped by a microfiber cloth, have started receiving settlement checks.

That’s right. Five years on and dissatisfied iPod nano owners get back a fraction of the price they paid for the device in the first place. The good news is that if you’d bought 14 of those first-generation iPod nanos, you’ll get back enough cash to buy an iPad.

I’m pretty sure the lawyers got more than $37.50 out of this settlement.

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Topics

Lawsuit, Apple iPod, Settlement, Apple iPod Nano, Digital Music, Digital Media, Personal Technology, Consumer Electronics, Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology.

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Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

All opinions expressed on Hardware 2.0 are those of Adrian Kingsley-Hughes. Every effort is made to ensure that the information posted is accurate. If you have any comments, queries or corrections, please contact Adrian via the email link here. Any possible conflicts of interest will be posted below. [Updated: February 23, 2010] - Adrian Kingsley-Hughes has no business relationships, affiliations, investments, or other actual/potential conflicts of interest relating to the content posted so far on this blog.

Biography

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes is an internationally published technology author who has devoted over a decade to helping users get the most from technology -- whether that be by learning to program, building a PC from a pile of parts, or helping them get the most from their new MP3 player or digital camera.

Adrian has authored/co-authored technical books on a variety of topics, ranging from programming to building and maintaining PCs. His most recent books include "Build the Ultimate Custom PC", "Beginning Programming" and "The PC Doctor's Fix It Yourself Guide". He has also written training manuals that have been used by a number of Fortune 500 companies.

Adrian also runs a popular blog under the name The PC Doctor, where he covers a range of computer-related topics -- from security to repairing and upgrading.

Talkback Most Recent of 13 Talkback(s)

  • Yes I did - VERY surprised
    Still using the nano and could not tell you if or how much the back is scratched. Some apparently cared enough to bring about this, in my opinion, silly lawsuit.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Bruce Lang
    9th Apr 2010
  • RE: So, anyone received their $37.50 settlement for the iPod nano class-action lawsuit?
    Hey,$37.50 beats nothing, which is what most users
    would get without the benefit of class action suits.

    Yeah, the individual settlement is small, but the
    alternative? Who has the financial resources to take
    on a giant corporation like Apple by themselves?

    Yes, class action attorneys make money, that's why
    they went to law school. But without class action law
    suits, average citizens or consumers would have no
    recourse against corporate giants
    ZDNet Gravatar
    ddrakewi
    9th Apr 2010
  • Lots of Class Action Suits going around these days
    I think I have received three small settlments to lawsuits that I never filed over the last two years with another one from my car insurance company on the way for supposed violation of Illinois laws.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    goingbust
    9th Apr 2010
  • $37.50 is pretty good
    It took a really long time and I thought the check was lost or never going to arrive, but I am happy to say I receive mine this week! Not bad for a device that is worth less than $50 now, and it is actually a pretty decent amount of money when you compare to what the customer usually received during a settlement, $5, $10 or worthless coupon to buy more worthless products.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    SonofChef
    9th Apr 2010
  • $37.50 is Exceptional!! Compared to:
    - the 1 year of free life insurance "coverage" from IDS, a company I hadn't had any business with in several years...
    - the coupons from Hollywood Video: rent one, get one free (oooo! I got 6 of 'em!)...
    - does anyone remember the Netflix settlement? They gave you a 1, 2, or 3 month free upgrade to the next level of service. But after the end of the "free" upgrade, they just left you at the new level (unless you caught them before your time was up) - HA! HA!! - more profit for them!!
    - Costco gas prices?? I think that one's still in "litigation". Meaning they haven't decided how much the lawyers get yet.

    In all the class actions I have been included in, I have never received CASH in excess of $5. The only one I remember was for about 3 and change. WooHoo!! Let's go get ice cream.

    And NONE of these lawsuits has truly been for any real harm to me - paying pennies more for something or other. I know that in the aggregate, these companies are making a LOT of money on these "mistakes", but it seems in the long run its just wasted time AND money - except for the lawyers. Because...

    Every last one of these companies claims that THEY DID NO WRONG. (So they're really just giving out these goodies to shut you up!)

    Anytime I get one of those notices in the mail, I have to try hard to remind myself what it was I had to do with the company - - - then I just file it away under "Surprise Me Later" - - - till that coupon comes in the mail...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    tjbud
    12th Apr 2010
  • Big Surprise!
    Yes, I also received the check.
    It will be a deposit on a new Zune...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Dave@...
    9th Apr 2010
  • Deposit??
    That should buy 2 or 3 of them.
    Check the bargain bin next time your in K-mart.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Tigertank
    11th Apr 2010
  • K-mart Bargain bin
    Sorry, I couldn't find any there, however, there were tons of Lisas and Newtons...
    ZDNet Gravatar
    Dave@...
    13th Apr 2010
  • RE: So, anyone received their $37.50 settlement for the iPod nano class-action lawsuit?
    "I?m pretty sure the lawyers got more than $37.50 out of this settlement."

    Well duh! The ONLY people that ever win in a class action lawsuit are the lawyers. Why do you think they are soooo eager to latch on to them?
    ZDNet Gravatar
    mgkdrgn
    12th Apr 2010
  • Some lawyers are pro bono, you know.
    Also, competitor(s) of the company subject to a class action lawsuit benefit immensely.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    AzuMao
    12th Apr 2010
  • Yes, some are
    But I'd bet you'd struggle very hard to prove an example of a pro bono situation in a consumer class action. I've NEVER heard of one even in class suits dealing with people truly harmed (meaning live and health) by the actions of a company.
    ZDNet Gravatar
    woofa
    12th Apr 2010
  • www.fenwick.com/pressroom/5.1.1.asp?loc=pr&mid=143
    ZDNet Gravatar
    AzuMao
    12th Apr 2010
  • RE: So, anyone received their $37.50 settlement for the iPod nano class-action lawsuit?
    Well? I got my check for $37.50 alright. Must say, I
    filled out the form and expected nothing, but there it
    was. What a country!
    ZDNet Gravatar
    greg@...
    20th Apr 2010

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