Apple Settles Lawsuit Over App Subscription Sharing
Apple has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a lawsuit accusing the company of misleading users about sharing app subscriptions with their Family Sharing groups. The lawsuit, filed in 2019 in the Superior Court of California, alleged that Apple falsely promised users the ability to share any app subscription with their family members, leading them to purchase subscriptions that couldn't actually be shared.
Settlement Details
Apple maintains that it did nothing wrong, but it chose to settle the case to avoid a potentially costly legal battle. The $25 million settlement will be distributed among eligible users who meet specific criteria outlined in the lawsuit settlement.
According to the settlement, eligible users are defined as "All persons who initiated the purchase of a subscription to an app through the Apple App Store, excluding subscriptions to first-party Apple apps, during the period June 21, 2015, through January 30, 2019, while enrolled in a Family Sharing group that had at least one other member at the time of the purchase, and who Apple’s records indicate were resident in the United States at the time of the purchase."
Claiming Your Share
To claim a share of the settlement, you must meet the following criteria:
- You were part of a Family Sharing group with at least one other person between June 2015 and January 2019.
- You lived in the US during that time.
- You purchased a non-Apple app subscription through the App Store during that period.
The exact amount of compensation will depend on the number of individuals who file claims, but it could be up to $50 per person.
Filing a Claim
Eligible users have until March 1, 2024, to file a claim. The process is straightforward and can be done easily on the Family Sharing Plan lawsuit website. A final hearing is scheduled for April 2, 2024, to finalize the settlement.
If you believe you meet the eligibility criteria, it is advised to visit the website and file your claim before the deadline. This is an opportunity to potentially receive a refund for the app subscription that you were unable to share with your family.
