Australia said Tuesday it would take Apple to court for misleading consumers over sales of its new iPad, claiming adverts that it can connect to a 4G network was misleading.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said it would be seeking orders against Apple in the Federal Court on Wednesday over its local "iPad with WiFi + 4G" promotion, which it claims is false advertising as the new gadget works on a different 4G frequency to that available in the country.
"It represents to Australian consumers that the product "iPad with WiFi + 4G" can, with a SIM card, connect to a 4G mobile data network in Australia, when this is not the case," the ACCC said.
"The ACCC is seeking urgent interlocutory relief to ensure consumers are made aware of the correct technical capabilities of this device."
The watchdog said it was seeking an injunction to sales, "pecuniary penalties, corrective advertising and refunds to consumers affected".
California-based Apple announced last week that it sold three million of the latest tablet computers in its first weekend on the market -- the strongest iPad launch yet.
The latest case is not the first time Apple's technology has landed in Australia's courts. The firm is locked in a legal battle with rival Samsung over tablet patents, part of a wider global tussle over supremacy of the US$100 billion market.