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USA today, Apple may owe you money after settling a class action lawsuit over the Family Sharing feature. The lawsuit, known as Walter Peters v. Apple, was settled by Apple for $25 million, meaning Apple could owe you up to (have you sat down?) a whopping $30 ! Family Sharing is an
App Store feature that allows you to share purchased apps with up to six family members. The “initiator user” lists the five additional family members in the initiator's Apple account.
Apple forced app developers to include Family Sharing ads on their app landing pages
If family members consent to being included in the Family Sharing program, when a family member purchases an app that supports Family Sharing from the App Store, the app is downloaded to the other members' devices of the family although only one payment is required to purchase the application for all six members of the family.
The complaint noted that “Apple places and/or requires its software developers to place a small advertisement on the landing pages of its apps stating that the app supports Family Sharing.”
Apple included this logo on landing pages for apps that didn't support Family Sharing
Until January 30, 2019, Apple included an ad on every app's landing page that read: “Supports Family Sharing.” Once Family Sharing is set up, up to six family members can use this app. » Apple included this statement on landing pages for apps that did not support this feature. The complaint alleges that even though Apple knew that the vast majority of apps in the App Store did not support Family Sharing, the landing page of most subscription-based apps included advertising.
Obviously, as the complaint points out in black and white, “This advertisement is materially misleading, in that it clearly indicates that the application is available for family sharing, whereas
it's not.” As expected, millions of App Store visitors purchased apps that they thought would automatically be shared with the five family members they had previously designated These Apple device owners were upset to discover that a particular app they had paid for, which featured the Family Sharing ad on its landing page, did not actually support this feature.
The gist of the complaint against Apple reads: “As a result of Apple's deceptive and deceptive practices, Plaintiffs and Class Members were induced to purchase subscription-based applications for which Apple receives high fees, believing that these apps could be shared with up to six family members, when in fact they were only available to the single user who set up the subscription.
The complaint adds that “Apple made millions of dollars in fraudulent sales to individuals who were told by Apple that they were receiving up to six copies of an application when they were only receiving one.” Apple customers did not benefit from their offer. They were misled.
In the
document containing the regulations, “Apple denies that it made any misleading statements regarding the sharing of third-party subscriptions using Family Sharing or that the named plaintiffs or class suffered any injury or damage or were entitled to compensation.” So why not let this all play out in court? Apple explains that “given the uncertainty and risks inherent in litigation in this matter, Apple has concluded that continuing to defend this action would be burdensome and costly. Apple enters into this agreement without in any way acknowledging any fault, liability or wrongdoing on the part of Apple. every kind.”
If you haven't been notified but think you're eligible for your share of the settlement, here's how to file a claim.
If you signed up for Family Sharing between June 21, 2015 and January 30, 2019 with at least one other person and purchased a third-party app, you can make a claim. And those who are eligible will receive an email with payment details. But if you don't receive any notifications and think you're eligible to make a claim, you can sign up by visiting the settlement website.
by clicking on this link. The deadline to participate in the settlement is March 1, 2024.
Depending on the number of legitimate claims received, each participant accepting the settlement could end up up to $30 richer. The final approval hearing will take place on April 2, 2024. Class members can decide in advance whether their percentage of the settlement will be sent to them by electronic bank transfer or check.
