US tech giant Apple and Japanese printer maker Epson face growing legal pressure in France over alleged planned obsolescence in their products as consumer groups make use of the country's law against the practice. The association Stop Planned Obsolescence (HOP or Halte a l'Obsolescence Programmee) said it had filed a complaint against Apple after the company admitted to intentionally slowing down its iPhones as they age. "Apple has put in place a global programme of planned obsolescence with a view to increasing its sales," the association said in a statement issued on Wednesday. Planned obsolescence is a widely criticised commercial practice in which manufacturers build in the expiry of their products so that consumers will be forced to replace them. The Epson case – if the initial legal inquiry finds enough evidence for a trial – could lead to the first prosecution for planned obsolescence, which lawyers warn is a difficult charge to prove in court.

Source: The Star December 29, 2017 05:48 UTC