Canadian iPod settlement resolves battery life claims

Canadian owners of first, second and third generation iPods will be eligible for a $45 credit as part of a settlement over battery life claims.

Two lawsuits have been filed in the country. While one in Quebec was denied class-action status, the other in Ontario had been accepted by the courts. This agreement would settle both cases.

Even so, the deal needs to be approved by both courts: a hearing is set in Montreal for May 26, and Toronto on June 20.

Both cases claimed that the battery life of early iPods fell dramatically after just one year of use. While the company said that the devices should get about eight hours of playback time, by the second year this had dropped to only three.

An estimated 80,000 Canadians are expected to be eligible for the program, which could cost the company up to $3.6 million in lost revenues if all the credits are used. Users would be able to use the $45 for purchases at the Apple Store online.

This week's settlement does not mean the company is out of legal hot water in Canada just yet. Another suit in Quebec seeking class-action status revolves around Apple's claims of capacity in some of its players.

In that case, the plaintiff is seeking a full refund for the player, or a 7.5 percent credit that corresponds to the amount of reduced space on his iPod nano.

Apple had no comment on the suit.