Staingate.org

Thousands of MacBook owners have grouped together to vent their frustrations over screen damage affecting Apple's displays.

"We are a group of Apple customers that paid more than 2000 USD/EUR for a Macbook that is showing horrific stains in the screen," writes the group on its website, Staingate.org.

"The stains can start as early as 7 months after the purchase. There is no clear pattern as to how it starts: some experience it in small spots around the edge, on other screens it appears in the middle as large patches."

Apple claims that this is "cosmetic damage" and as such it is not covered by the warranty, leaving owners facing repair costs that can total up to $800.

The worst affected MacBooks appear to be those sold in 2013 but it seems that the problem dates back to 2009.

The group says it has been contacted by more than 3,000 people so far, and US law firm Whitfield Bryson & Mason has contacted the organization's Facebook group offering to help. The law firm has already begun collecting data.

On the face of it the damage appears to be afflicting the antireflective coating applied to the display. Something - and that something could range from user abuse to a manufacturing defect - seems to have caused the coating to decay, leaving behind what appears to be an ugly stain.

In all my experience of using, abusing, damaging, and repairing devices, I've never seen a screen suffer that sort of damage. If you've come across this problem, let me know in the comments section below.

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