- General
- July 4, 2019
- 4 minutes read
Samsung Sued Over Smartphone Ads
Samsung Galaxy Note9 image: Samsung Australia’s consumer watchdog [the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)] has opened a legal case against…
 |
| Samsung Galaxy Note9
image: Samsung
|
Australia’s consumer watchdog [the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)] has opened a legal case against Samsung, alleging the smartphone maker “made false, misleading and deceptive representations” in advertising the water resistance level of Samsung Galaxy smartphones.
Since early 2016, Samsung has put up lots of ads on Galaxy phones, including some that depicted Galaxy phones being used in, or exposed to water bodies like swimming pools and oceans. Samsung has also touted the Galaxy phones as being water resistant up to a depth of 1.5 metres for 30 minutes.
 |
| Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.5’’
image: Samsung
|
The ACCC is alleging Samsung had no reasonable basis for such ads as sufficient water resistance level tests were not made, coupled with Samsung having denied warranty claims from consumers whose phones were damaged when used in water, and also holding a view that using Galaxy phones in liquid apart from fresh water could cause damage. For example, Samsung’s website states that the recently unveiled Galaxy S10 line-up is “not advised for beach or pool use”.
“Samsung itself has acknowledged that water resistance is an important factor influencing Australian consumer decisions when they choose what mobile phone to purchase,” ACCC Chair Rod Sims said in a statement. “Samsung’s advertisements, we believe, denied consumers an informed choice and gave Samsung an unfair competitive advantage,” He said.
Samsung on the other hand has said its advertising compiled with Australian law and would defend the case against it. The Korean smartphone maker has sold more than 4 million Galaxy phones in Australia.
