Tech giant Apple has agreed to pay $25 million to settle a class action lawsuit related to its Family Sharing feature, which enables users to share app subscriptions with family members. The settlement, reported by Engadget, stems from a 2019 lawsuit accusing Apple of misleading customers about the scope of Family Sharing.
Allegations of Misleading Practices:
The lawsuit alleges that Apple, between 2015 and 2019, did not adequately communicate the limitations of Family Sharing, allowing individual app developers to restrict sharing for certain subscriptions. According to the complaint, Apple advertised Family Sharing even for apps that did not support this feature, leading to customer confusion.
Settlement Details and Payouts:
As part of the settlement, Apple will pay $25 million, and eligible users who participated in Family Sharing between June 21, 2015, and January 30, 2019, may be entitled to a payout of up to $30. The settlement amount is capped at $50 per class member, and a portion of the settlement will go towards attorney fees.
Apple’s Response:
Apple, while settling the lawsuit, maintains that it did not engage in misleading practices and denies any wrongdoing. The company states that the settlement is a strategic decision to avoid the potential costs associated with a jury trial.
How to Claim Payout:
Eligible users will be notified via email regarding the settlement details. If users do not receive an email but believe they are eligible, they can register on the class action lawsuit’s website. The deadline to file a claim is March 1, 2024, with a final approval hearing scheduled for April 2, 2024.
Note: This news report is a compilation of information gathered from multiple sources as reported by Engadget, The Verge, and TechCrunch. We have not published this news initially.
References:
- https://www.engadget.com/apple-is-settling-a-class-action-lawsuit-over-family-sharing-for-25-million-235208522.html
- https://www.theverge.com/2023/12/15/24003280/apple-family-sharing-settlement-class-action-lawsuit
- https://techcrunch.com/2023/12/15/apple-agrees-to-pay-out-25-million-to-settle-lawsuit-over-family-sharing/
- https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2023/12/15/apple-settles-peters-family-sharing-plan-lawsuit/71937851007/TechCrunch
