Settlement terms have been reached in the 2011 class action lawsuit over Apple's
in-app purchase system, a new
claims website indicates. The plaintiffs in the case argued that Apple's system allowed some developers to dupe children into buying large amounts of in-app content. While Apple normally requires an Apple ID login to authorize in-app purchases, until iOS 4.3 was released in 2011, a
15-minute window existed after an initial login during which more sign-ins weren't required.
All US residents can submit a settlement claim so long as they paid for an in-app purchase made through a qualifying app prior to May 2, and the purchase was made by a minor without a parent's knowledge or permission. There are three different compensation options, starting with a $5 iTunes Store credit; people can also claim credit "equal to the total amount of Game Currency that a minor charged to your iTunes account without your knowledge or permission within a single forty-five day period." The final option involves a cash refund, but only if a person no longer has an iTunes account, or if a claim's value exceeds $30.
The deadline for claim submissions is January 13. People choosing to object to the settlement or opt out of it, however, must take action by August 30.
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