Japan Asks Apple to Investigate Laptops

Apple Computer has been ordered by the Japanese government to investigate its products after reports that at least one of the company's laptops has caught fire as a result of defective batteries from its partner Sony. Apple has already initiated a recall of 1.8 million batteries, mostly in the United States, on a voluntary basis. In that recall, Apple said the battery could overheat "in rare circumstances."

Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry had previously asked Dell and Sony to investigate why Dell laptops were overheating and catching fire. The government had also threatened the two companies with fines under Japan's consumer safety laws if they failed to comply.