The European Consumers’ Organisation BEUC gave formal notice to Apple, on 19 March, to respect Directive 2005/29/EC concerning unfair business-to-consumer commercial practices in the internal market. Eleven consumer organisations, all members of BEUC, consider that the global IT giant does not respect EU legislation by offering a commercial guarantee of one year (offered by the manufacturer) and the possible purchase of a warranty extension via the AppleCare protection plan, which can last two or three years. “In the EU, consumers are entitled to a minimum two-year legal guarantee. Consumers should not be misled and confused as to fundamental EU consumer rights because a company wants to sell their commercial warranty services,” said Monique Goyens, director-general of BEUC. Goyens said that several consumer organisations had sent Apple a letter and/or had brought the case before the authorities of their country. This practice has already been condemned by the Italian competition authority, in December 2011, but Apple is currently appealing.