Apple has reached a settlement in a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of misrepresenting the capabilities of its Family Sharing plans, specifically in terms of sharing app subscriptions among family members. The settlement, totaling $25 million, awaits court approval in 2024.
The Crux of the Lawsuit
Apple’s Family Sharing feature, which allows subscribers to share various services and content with up to five family members, was the center of this legal dispute. This includes offerings such as Apple Music, Apple TV Plus, iCloud storage, iTunes movie purchases, and more. The contentious aspect arose from Family Sharing’s supposed ability to share subscriptions to select third-party apps.
However, the lawsuit argued that Apple permitted developers to opt out of allowing their app subscriptions to be shared across family members, a detail allegedly misrepresented to users. Apple, while not admitting wrongdoing, chose to settle the lawsuit to avoid a costly jury trial.
Settlement Terms
As part of the settlement agreement, each member of the settlement class may receive compensation of up to $30 from Apple. The final amount will be contingent on the number of claimants. Apple maintains its position of not acknowledging guilt but has opted for a practical resolution to conclude the legal matter.
Am I Eligible to File a Claim?
Consumers meeting specific criteria are eligible to file a claim for payment from Apple. Here’s what the settlement’s website says:
“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 between June 21, 2015 and 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.”
The deadline for filing a claim is March 1, 2024.
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