Apple corporation will pay more than $100 million to the parents whose children downloaded paid applications from App Store without permission and bought virtual money for games. The solution of the problem will cost Apple $100 million. Experts debate: parents themselves consider their children not to well understand in technologies and leave them smartphones and tablets at the same time. But modern children handle with the gadgets more freely than the adults.
Apple agreed to compensate more than $100 million. Angry parents addressed to the California court in 2011. They accused Apple of the fact that the children can easily download paid applications and games to iPhone or iPad; besides they can buy without any permission virtual money for games and different goods within mobile applications. It was noticed that in App Store children are able to buy different mobile applications and virtual money without any passwords.
Apple suggested to solve the problem out of court as follows: in case if children spent the insignificant amount the company will return the money as the credit in App Store in amount of $5; if more than $5 were spent the amount will be returned in a full size. And in case if children bought the applications and virtual money for the amount exceeding $30 parents will be able to require the compensation in cash. But to receive the compensation parents will have to prove that the mobile application was downloaded by the underage and the adults didn’t provide the password to the account in iTunes.
The suggested by the company scheme is going to be learnt by California court on Friday. Apple will pay the compensation only on the territory of the USA and the payments will be able to start only in the end of 2013 – beginning of 2014 year.
Apple denied commenting on the situation.
Guest article by Josh Hamilton, Senior Engineer at cell phone company having personal experience with different Hi-tech and engineering solutions, sharing ideas on mobile trends and modern gadgets including mobile amplifier solutions, cool gadgets, networking solutions and other topics.
