14 DAY TRIAL // Think anyone is bold enough to go head-to-head with Apple in court? Whether iPod scammer Nicholas Woodhams is or isn't, this guy sure has some answering to do. Aside from forgetting to change his business' name from iPod Mechanic, he tricked Apple into sending him free iPod parts.
Woodhams runs an iPod repair shop called iPod Mechanics. You'd think that Apple, who sued the city of New York for an Apple-like logo, would be upset with a move like this.
Anyway, TUAW is reporting that Apple was mighty patient with Woodhams, asking him to reconsider the name of his iPod repair shop, meaning no "iPod" in it. Also, Apple politely asked that he should change the ipodmechanic.com domain name, giving him two extra months to comply. While the site now redirects to imechanic.com, the company is still called iPod Mechanic. Well, you know how it is when the cash just keeps flowing in.
But Apple can't ask for $225,000 in damages just for these two allegations. No siree, Woodhams was so much naughtier, convincing Apple to send him free repair parts for iPods: "Woodhams allegedly scammed Apple's iPod shuffle Advance Replacement Program in 2007, filling out online forms for customers using a credit card as insurance that the broken shuffle would be returned," the aforementioned source reveals. "Apple claims that Woodhams would immediately decline charges made by Apple when the broken shuffles didn't show, and then sold the iPods at a heavy discount." The scheme has reportedly cost apple over $75,000.
You'll never believe this but there's more. Quoting an AppleInsider piece, the same source notes that Woodhams is also accused of swapping back plates on iPods that are out of warranty for iPods still covered by a warranty. Why would anyone do that if not to avoid paying for parts and repair charges?
Aside from the triple damages in cash, Apple is seeking the discontinuation of the iPod Mechanic name and website as well. Having crossed Apple this many times, 75 Gs X 3 sounds just about right. Some good slammer time would also be in order here, since all of the offenses are viewed as "deliberate."