Apple has complied with a court order in Italy and is informing customers at its online store about a legally mandated two-year warranty, reports "The Register" (http://macte.ch/AHf0w).

Now featured at the top of the main page of Apple's online store is a "communication to protect consumers" that links to a PDF explaining the court's ruling. The change to Apple's online store in Italy was first noted by setteBIT and detailed by The Register.

A small "Communication to protect consumers" has appeared at the top of the Italian Apple store, linking to a PDF document setting out the court decision against the company. That ruling found the company guilty of pushing its extended AppleCare warranty while failing to alert buyers of the legally mandated two-year warranty applicable to all Italian retailers, but was being appealed by Apple, notes "The Register."

In December 2011, Italy's Antitrust Authority fined Apple 900,000 euros (approximately US$1.2 million) for its handling of customer guarantees. The watchdog group said Apple had failed to inform shoppers of their legal right to two years' technical support, recognizing instead only a one-year standard warranty.

The Antitrust Authority said the firm's action had led people to pay extra for Apple's own support service, which overlapped in part with the free guarantee. There's no word on whether Apple has paid the fine.