informa
/
1 MIN READ
News

Apple to pay back parents in free-to-play games settlement

A lawsuit filed against Apple by disgruntled parents who found that their children had accidentally bought in-app purchases in kids' games may finally come to an end soon, with a large settlement from Apple.
A lawsuit filed two years ago against Apple by disgruntled parents who found that their children had accidentally bought in-app purchases in kids' games may finally come to an end later this week -- thanks to a large settlement on Apple's part. Angry parents claimed that their children were able to buy in-game items without a password for the first 15 minutes after downloading the app, giving young children the chance to buy hundreds of dollars worth of content without their parent's approval. A U.S. Judge later stated that Apple may have violated consumer protection laws by inappropriately labeling these apps as free. In a settlement document filed this week, and as reported by the Guardian, Apple has now offered to pay out to all those parents who can show that their child made in-app purchases using iTunes Store or App Store credits, with a settlement figure that could cost the company up to $100 million. Those cases in which more than $30 in cash was used will also be considered, the filing states. The settlement, which will only apply to the U.S. if it is approved, will be proposed to a U.S. court of March 1. One of the most infamous games involved in the in-app purchase saga was Capcom's Smurfs Village, which urged children to buy virtual currency to expand their in-game town. The game's download page now includes a prominent disclaimer to inform parents of its business model.

Latest Jobs

Treyarch

Vancouver, BC, Canada
5.8.23
Producer

Bladework games

Remote (United States)
5.18.23
Senior Gameplay Engineer

University of Canterbury

Christchurch, Canterbury, New Zealand
5.17.23
Academic in Game Arts and Animation

Fred Rogers Productions

Hybrid (424 South 27th Street, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
5.19.23
Producer - Games & Websites
More Jobs   

CONNECT WITH US

Explore the
Advertise with
Follow us

Game Developer Job Board

Game Developer

@gamedevdotcom

Explore the

Game Developer Job Board

Browse open positions across the game industry or recruit new talent for your studio

Browse
Advertise with

Game Developer

Engage game professionals and drive sales using an array of Game Developer media solutions to meet your objectives.

Learn More
Follow us

@gamedevdotcom

Follow us @gamedevdotcom to stay up-to-date with the latest news & insider information about events & more