Locked iPhone leads to court case

A man took a Shanghai Apple outlet to court yesterday as he was unable to unlock his iPhone 5 after store staff performed a system restore.

The iPhone owner, surnamed Shen, is demanding compensation of 3,000 yuan (US$483) and a replacement, the Huangpu District People's Court heard.

The Apple outlet on Nanjing Road refuses, claiming that the phone locked because he repeatedly entered the incorrect ID and password.

Shen told the court that a member of staff recommended a system restore following a test for connectivity problems.

But when Shen was unable to log in afterward he asked the Apple store clerk to unlock the phone.

However, the member of staff refused as Shen could provide no invoice or warranty for the secondhand phone, which he bought online for 3,000 yuan.

But Shen insisted that the clerk didn't mention this.

"When I gave them the iPhone, it could be used. Now it can't," Shen said.

The court organized mediation for the two sides but the lawyers said they needed further consideration.