Italy's Antitrust Authority fined three Apple subsidiaries $1.18 million (900,000 euros) for misleading local consumers on warranty terms and customer assistance.

Apple Sales International, Apple Italia Srl and Apple Retail Italia were fined $515,000 (400,000 euros) for not properly informing consumers on the term of warranty for products. Under EU laws, the two-year warranty applies. But Apple only provides a one-year product guarantee.

The three Apple divisions were also fined $644,000 (500,000 euros) for providing incomplete information on the AppleCare Protection Plan. Consumers apparently availed of paid warranty extension that is supposed to be free under EU's two-year warranty law.

Consumers filed the complaint of unfair commercial practices before the antitrust authority.

Italy's antitrust authority is an independent institution, which makes its decisions based on the law without the possibility of interference by the government or other political entities. It is responsible for protecting consumers from unfair commercial practices and misleading advertising.