Apple has established a “Quality Program” that allows MacBook and MacBook Pro users with defective screens to have the screen replaced at no charge.

The Quality Program (Apple-speak for replacement program) comes as a significant number of users with the laptops have reported that the anti-reflective treatment on Retina models has worn off or even delaminated, often damaging the screen at the same time.

According to a report from MacRumors, the new program will allow users with MacBook or MacBook Pro models to obtain a replacement screen for free within three years from the date of original purchase, or one year from October 16, 2015, whichever is longer.

Reports that Retina screens with Apple’s anti-reflective treatment first emerged earlier this year, culminating in complaints across the web, including over 6,000 affected users signing up for a site called Staingate and thousands of others signing a petition on Change.org demanding that Apple fix the problem.

User reports, and pictures posted to Staingate all show the same thing: what look like stains on the screen due to the anti-reflective coating bubbling and/or wearing off, leaving the laptops in some case next to near impossible to use given the screen is left looking like it had been attacked by a cat with particularly sharp claws.

No one seems to know why this is occurring, although one theory is that it may be related to the way the screen touches the keyboard when the MacBook is closed; given Mac’s are notorious for running hot and how the affected screens look, heat perhaps melting the coating does actually make sense.

It is believed that some users have had their screens replaced already for free if they had Apple Care, but there is a possibility that those who don’t may have paid to have had the screens replaced; it’s not clear if those customers would now be eligible for a refund or not given the issuing of a “Quality Program” order effectively means that Apple has now recognized there is a serious fault.

Apple has not officially confirmed the existence of the replacement program, however SiliconANGLE can confirm that we are aware of one affected user who was offered a replacement (presumably under the program) last week.

Users are required to attended a Genius Bar or visit an Apple Authorized Service Provider to obtain the repairs, which via a report on Facebook takes 3-5 days to undertake, at least through Apple retail outlets in Australia.

Image credit: Staingate.