The Taipei City Government has decided not to appeal the ruling on the Google Android case in hopes of a swift settlement, the city’s Department of Legal Affairs said yesterday.
The city government had sued Google for violation of the Consumer Protection Act (消費者保護法) because the US company offered only a 15-minute free trial period for apps downloaded via the company’s Android platform, instead of seven days as prescribed in the act.
The incident occurred in 2011 when the city government ordered the local branches of Apple Inc and Google Inc to introduce seven-day free trial programs for their mobile phone apps within 15 days after a consumer bought a software application on Apple Store that did not work, but could not return it.
While the two companies claimed they were not liable for mobile apps developed by a third party even if they were sold through their online platforms, the city government said it constituted an irresponsible business practice.
The city government cited Article 19 of the Consumer Protection Act, which states that consumers may return the product to the vendor within seven days if the product failed to meet expectations, is not as useful as hoped, or is flawed.
The city department said that in the latest court decision, the Taipei High Administrative Court had rescinded the original punitive measures, but had also said that Article 19 applies to software downloaded via Android Market and ordered Google to provide a seven-day grace period.
However, the court also said that the limitations on standard form contracts fall under the central government’s jurisdiction, and the city government has no right or grounds to intercede on behalf of the public and that consumers must file suit themselves in cases involving standard form contracts.
After ascertaining with the Consumer Protection Committee that the Ministry of Economic Affairs is in charge of such disputes, the city government said it would not appeal the ruling.
The department also said that while the city government was not pursuing further legal action, it hoped that Google would respect the court’s ruling and grant consumers a seven-day grace period and place consumers’ rights first.
Palauan President Surangel Whipps Jr arrived in Taiwan last night to kick off his first visit to the country since beginning his second term earlier this year. After arriving at Taoyuan International Airport at around 6:30 pm, Whipps and his delegation were welcomed by Minister of Foreign Affairs Lin Chia-lung (林佳龍). Speaking to gathered media, the Palauan leader said he was excited and honored to be back in Taiwan on his first state visit to Taiwan since he was sworn in this January. Among those traveling with Whipps is Minister of State Gustav N. Aitaro, Public Infrastructure
President William Lai (賴清德) yesterday thanked Palau for its continued support of Taiwan's international participation, as Taipei was once again excluded from the World Health Assembly (WHA) currently taking place in Switzerland. "Palau has never stopped voicing support for Taiwan" in the UN General Assembly, the WHO and other UN-affiliated agencies, Lai said during a bilateral meeting with visiting Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr. "We have been profoundly touched by these endorsements," Lai said, praising the Pacific island nation's firm support as "courageous." Lai's remarks came as Taiwan was excluded for the ninth consecutive year from the WHA, which is being held in
RESOLUTIONS DEBATE: Taiwan’s allies said that UN and WHA resolutions cited by China and other nations ‘do not determine Taiwan’s participation in WHO activities’ A proposal to invite Taiwan to this year’s World Health Assembly (WHA) was rejected on Monday, resulting in Taipei’s absence from the annual meeting for a ninth consecutive year, although partners spoke up for Taiwan’s participation at the first day of the meeting. The first agenda item after the opening was a “two-on-two debate” on a proposal to invite Taiwan to participate at the WHA as an observer. Similar to previous years, two countries made statements in favor of the proposal, while two others expressed their opposition. Philippine Secretary of Health Teodoro Herbosa, president of the 78th WHA, accepted the WHA General Committee’s
At least three people died and more than a dozen were injured yesterday afternoon when a vehicle struck a group of pedestrians in New Taipei City’s Sansia District (三峽). The incident happened at about 4pm when a car rammed into pedestrians at an intersection near Bei Da Elementary School. Witnesses said the sedan, being driven at a high speed, ran a red light, knocking scooters out of the way and hitting students crossing the road before careening into a median near the intersection of Guocheng and Guoguang streets. The incident resulted in three deaths and 13 injuries, including the driver, a 78-year-old man
RSS