WA fines Apple $100k

Same with Apple over gift certificates and iTMS credits, in WA they can't expire. I got my credits reinstated at the iTMS store after bringing this to the attention of the Attorney General and the iTMS store.

http://www.perkinscoie.com/content/ren/updates/mktg/040204.htm

While Apple discovered it, its really just Washingtons way of getting more money for their horribly misguided government.

WA may have no income tax, but they sure as heck tax everything else.

You failed to mention that it was Apple Legal themselves who discovered the oversight and informed the state authorities...

$100K is like pocket change to Apple. They probably spend more than that in toilet paper each year.

re: 3
It protects the customer in a way. You can't have rogue companies selling insurance under the radar. There are a lot of laws and regulations relating to insurance. If they get called on it for some type of claim, the gov will probably want to know that the company was authorized to sell the insurance in the first place.

"Under a 1999 law, any company who sells service contracts (think AppleCare) in the state of Washington must register with the Office of the Insurance Commissioner."

What the hell does that do for the customer?

Having worked in state & local government for a number of years, I can guarantee you that it is impossible for any person or business entity to comply with 100% of government's laws and regulations. There are just too many compliance stipulations and they change daily. It's true; "the pen is mightier than the sword". I've seen multi-million contracts dissolve & business careers ruined because of some arcane government contract reference used to kill a deal or punish a contractor, often over some perceived political squabble.

Example; In my State, every local & state government contract must be executed with a pen manufactured by the blind otherwise the contract is invalid.

turned* ;-)

maybe we could give them some ritalin? perhaps its time for statera! Who knows, they could sell the ritalin to microsoft who in turn would have to go to reehab for addiciton eventually!