Class Action Lawsuit Filed Against Apple Because Siri Doesn't Always Work Right

from the siri,-why-do-people-mock-lawyers? dept

Thu, Mar 15th 2012 2:38pm — Mike Masnick

Technology doesn't always work quite as well as the advertisements claim. But is that any reason to sue? Apparently, yes. Some guy is trying to kick off a class action lawsuit against Apple because Siri doesn't work quite as well as it does in the TV ads. I imagine this lawsuit is going nowhere fast. Perhaps next time the guy should try asking Siri for legal advice...

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Filed Under: class action, lawsuit, siri
Companies: apple

33 Comments

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Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2012 @ 2:40pm

Yawn.

Next.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2012 @ 2:46pm

Asking Siri?
Perhaps next time the guy should try asking Siri for legal advice.
How do you know he didn't, and this is the result? :)
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Josh (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 2:47pm

He did. This is what she suggested. It's not her fault he can't understand sarcasm.
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PlagueSD (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 2:53pm

Wow...That's a terrible scan. Completely unreadable starting on page 4. Maybe we should ask Siri for a translation.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2012 @ 2:54pm

Next up, suing McDonalds (Or other fast food joints) for their burgers not looking like the ones in their ads.
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monkyyy, 15 Mar 2012 @ 2:57pm

u mean apple trys to tell everyone that its stuff works the best and the easyest but as soon as u do something the didnt think u would want to do it suddenly stops works well, if at all
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JonD, 15 Mar 2012 @ 3:01pm

That's one haggard typewriter
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:Lobo Santo (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 3:04pm

Re: Well actually...
One could argue McDonalds pictured food is classical bait and switch...

It's like ordering and paying for a rose and receiving a daisy...
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2012 @ 3:05pm

I bet that guy is troll on Dr. Horrible�s Sing-Along Blog.

ps: Nerds be prepared the Dr. Horrible sequel is coming.
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GMacGuffin (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 3:14pm

All California causes of action, one California lawyer out of six. Damages folks? Is everyone's damage the same such that it's amenable to a class action? Did it tell them all to invest in Yahoo!? Maybe it was scanned badly so the Court couldn't actually read it. Can you spell "Motion to Dismiss?" I knew ya could.
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Suja (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 3:50pm

Re: Re: Well actually...
It's like ordering and paying for a rose and receiving a dandelion...

FTFY
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DOlz (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 3:53pm

Surprised
I would have though it was Dr. Barry Kripke filing the lawsuit.
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DazzaJ, 15 Mar 2012 @ 3:59pm

Ask Siri!
I thought Apple products were perfect?
Ask Apple!
Ask the sheep!
Ask Siri!
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Vidiot (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 4:04pm

Re:
And since the "food stylists" are known for using shellac... glycerin... anything to make it look bee-yoo-tee-ful... I'll stick with the ugly burger, thanks.
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2012 @ 4:26pm

Refund
I think people who bought an iphone 4 assuming Siri was usefull totally deserves a refund on both the phone and be let out of the contract they entered to get the phone and lawsuit should only come into play if the refund is denied.

As a professional software developer I knew Siri was bunk from the star, but I suspsed the average apple user would assume the product would "just work" as most of apple's products which is why they pay the premium price for scaled-down features.
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GMacGuffin (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 4:32pm

Re: Refund
I think anyone who bought an iPhone thinking Siri would be anything more than a mildly useful curiosity does not deserve a refund for lack of ... er, maybe looking into it a bit first.
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orbitalinsertion (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 4:34pm

So, who am I supposed to sue
if I'm gullible?
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2012 @ 4:36pm

Re: Surprised
Exactly what I was thinking!
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Anonymous Coward, 15 Mar 2012 @ 4:38pm

Re:
Download it (it is a pdf file) and it comes out fine.
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LazyDave, 15 Mar 2012 @ 5:16pm

Re: Refund
be let out of the contract

I wonder what exactly does that contract say, especially if it mentioned anything about using Apps like Siri or so.
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Melissa Ruhl (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 5:28pm

*facepalm*
And it's idiots like this dude who devalue the importance of citizen litigation in a democracy by creating a collection eye roll...
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Al Bert (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 5:36pm

Re: Re: Re: Well actually...
I'd sooner eat a dandelion. At least dandelions don't taste like cardboard soaked in old beef tallow. I have verified this.
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The Devil's Coachman (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 6:13pm

Re:
Are you attempting to prove the infinite monkey typing theory. If so - FAIL.
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The Devil's Coachman (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 6:17pm

Re: Ask Siri!
1. You were wrong,
2. They never said that.
3. Sheep are ruminant animals, and do not care.
4. Siri is a work in progress. It will never be complete or perfect. Why would anyone ask it anything and expect a correct answer each and every time?

Your trolling is weak. You need much more practice and training. Go now.
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The Devil's Coachman (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 6:18pm

Re: So, who am I supposed to sue
I'd start with one's parents, who made you gullible in the first place. All other issues are sequelae to that.
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Liz (profile), 15 Mar 2012 @ 7:27pm

Re: Re: Re: Re: Well actually...
Plus dandelion greens are edible and served in a number of Soul Food dishes in place of collard or mustard greens.
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Jade, 15 Mar 2012 @ 10:12pm

Re:
Someone in Australia did sue McDonalds for their burgers not looking as they do on the menus and in ads (which is why now in small writing, they've got some disclaimer)
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Mar 2012 @ 3:16am

Re: Re:
Yep

It was probably under the "Trade Practices Act" under the section dealing with false advertising - the product as advertised does not match the actual product to the extent that the advertising may cause the consumer to be mislead as the the quality, quantity, fitness for purpose etc.

The consumer does not have to take any legal action at all! They just submit a complaint to the ACCC, they then investigate and when necessary impose whatever remedies they like (within what is allowed in the Act), if the company does not like it, the company then has to take the ACCC to court - not the consumer.

Remedies include forced withdrawal of the false advertising, corrective advertising, public apologies in the same media where the false advertising appeared (same prominence, same page, same fonts or larger, at least the same amount of time that the false advertising was seen, same tv advertising slots etc).

Its funny how we get advertising with things like slightly lop-sided burgers, models (pretending to be everyday people in everyday situations) that don't look air-brushed etc!
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TFP, 16 Mar 2012 @ 3:49am

Some dude here in the UK tried the same thing, got laughed out of court, but it did mean I checked out the advert for the phone, and it basically is an ad for Siri, as in she acts like a personal secretary and understands the questions you ask it. As far as I'm concerned that's not just stretching the truth, it's bending it 90 degree's to reality.

Yet it's still playing on British TVs, even tho' it's patently a lie.
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Jeremy Lyman (profile), 16 Mar 2012 @ 4:52am

true statements only please
I would be pretty okay with subtracting all lying from marketing as the new normal.

Next on my list: "up to" advertising.
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Anonymous Coward, 16 Mar 2012 @ 6:12am

Re:
Just select the text it will make the double vision effect go away.
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Anonymous Coward, 17 Mar 2012 @ 9:49am

Disclaimer??
Um...did the MORON take the time to read the DISCLAIMER text at the bottom of the screen, when the commercial was playing? Unless I'm wrong, did it not state something to this effect:

Sequences shortened. Screen images simulated.

It's a snowball's chance in hell. Good luck with THAT lawsuit.
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Wally (profile), 3 Apr 2012 @ 2:47pm

Siri
It is quite interesting that Siri has to learn how you speak first :-)
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