Skip to main content

Apple dealt class action lawsuit over in-app purchases, child ‘exploitation’

zombie_cafe_apple_lawsuit_in_app_purchaseA Pennsylvania father has filed a lawsuit against Apple for allowing in-app purchases in free iPhone games, which he claims allows children to spend real-world money without even knowing it.

Filed by Garen Meguerian of Phoenixville, PA, on behalf of himself and other parents and legal guardians, the lawsuit charges that Apple has enabled unauthorized charges for in-game content, which amounts to “unlawful exploitation” of children, reports Apple Insider. The suit specifically targets games made for iOS devices, like the iPad, iPhone and iPod touch that include the option for digital merchandise.

The games that sparked the lawsuit include Zombie Cafe, Treasure Story and City Story. Through these games, Meguerian’s two daughters, ages 9 and 12, racked up $200 in in-app purchases, for things like “Zombie Toxin,” “Gems” and “City Cash.”

The problem, says Meguerian in the suit, was that Apple allowed for in-app purchases for 15 minutes after the iTunes account password has been entered. This enabled app users to authorize whatever purchases they like, even if they didn’t have permission from the account holder, who was then stuck with the bill.

As noted in the lawsuit, Apple recently changed its policy for in-app purchases in the iOS 4.3 update to require password entry for each purchase. But this wasn’t good enough for Meguerian, who charges that Apple pocketed “millions of dollars” before implementing the policy change. He also says that the password is not enough to stop unauthorized purchases.

“Because the passwords now required for purchases of Game Currency are the same passwords required for any Apple purchase, minors aware of such password may purchase Game Currency without authorization from their parents for that purchase,” the lawsuit states.

This lawsuit follows an instance in which an 8-year-old girl was able to amount a $1,400 bill through in-app purchases made in the Capcom game Smurf’s Village. Following this case, the US Federal Trade Commission launched an investigation against Apple for its in-app purchase system.

Topics
Andrew Couts
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Features Editor for Digital Trends, Andrew Couts covers a wide swath of consumer technology topics, with particular focus on…
Shokz sale: Get up to 31% off bone conduction headphones
A runner wearing the Shokz OpenRun Pro bone conduction headphones.

If you're not a fan of how wireless headphones clamp your head and how wireless earbuds plug into your ears, then you may want to think about getting bone conduction headphones. They work by sending sound to your eardrums using vibrations that pass through your jawbone and skull. Shokz, one of the pioneers of this technology, has its devices currently available with discounts from Best Buy, so if you're interested in trying any of them, you shouldn't let these offers end without making a purchase.

What to buy in Best Buy's Shokz bone conduction headphones sale
The entry-level model of Shokz bone conduction headphones are the Shokz OpenMove. Originally priced at $80, they're 31% off, down to a for savings of $25. They feature the brand's signature open-ear design, with an IP55 rating for water and sweat resistance and a battery life of up to six hours on a single charge. Swimmers, however, should go for the Shokz OpenSwim, which are completely waterproof with an IP68 rating, allowing them to be submerged up to two meters deep for up to two hours. They also offer battery life of up to eight hours. From $150, the Shokz OpenSwim are for savings of $30.

Read more
Best Buy just slashed the price of the Sonos One SL wireless speaker
The Sonos One SL wireless speaker on a bedside table.

Sonos is one of the most popular brands in the audio industry, so if you're looking at speaker deals, you wouldn't want to miss this chance to get the Sonos One SL for a very cheap price of $159 from Best Buy. We're not sure how much time is remaining on this $41 discount from the wireless speaker's original price of $200 though, so if you don't want to miss out, we're recommending that you complete your purchase right away. Every minute of delay increases the risk of having this offer slip through your fingers.

Why you should buy the Sonos One SL wireless speaker
The Sonos One SL is a cheaper version of the first-generation Sonos One, but it retains most of the features that made the latter an extremely popular wireless speaker ahead of its successor -- the second-generation Sonos One that's featured in our list of the best smart speakers. The Sonos One SL is capable of stereo sound if you pair two of them, as well as multi-room playback if you have more than one of the wireless speaker installed around your home. With a tweeter and a mid-woofer, the Sonos One SL will be able to fill your room with high-quality audio.

Read more
Usually $299, this HP Chromebook is discounted to $149 today
HP Chromebook 14b sits on a desk.

If the laptop deals that you come across are too expensive because all you need is a basic device, then you may want to check out Chromebook deals. Here's an affordable offer that may catch your attention -- the HP Chromebook 14a for only $149, following a $150 discount on its original price of $299. That's insanely cheap, and we don't think that price will hold for a long time. If you're interested in taking advantage of this bargain, it's highly recommended that you proceed with the purchase immediately because it may be gone as soon as tomorrow.

Why you should buy the HP Chromebook 14a
A Chromebook is a laptop that's powered by Google's Chrome OS, which is a web-based operating system that allows devices to run fast and smooth despite cheap components. For example, the HP Chromebook 14a is only equipped with the Intel Celeron N4120 processor, Intel UHD Graphics 600, and 4GB of RAM, but it's good enough for the basic tasks that you'll need to complete for work or school such as typing documents, doing online research, and making presentations. The HP Chromebook 14a doesn't have much built-in storage as it only comes with a 64GB eMMC, but you'll have all the space that you need for your files on Google Drive.

Read more