Claim Your Share of Apple's $25M Family Sharing Settlement

Apple has agreed to resolve a class-action lawsuit by paying a sum of $25 million, and if you are among the affected users, you may be eligible to receive a portion of this settlement. In this discussion, we explore the reasons behind Apple's decision to make this payment, who qualifies for compensation, and the process for making a claim.

Why Apple Is Settling for $25 Million

The lawsuit, initiated by Walter Peters in 2019, alleges that Apple's Family Sharing feature is deceptive as it does not function uniformly across all applications. Family Sharing allows users to share their subscriptions with up to five members of their household. However, because developers can choose not to participate in Family Sharing, users can only share subscriptions for apps that support this feature.

The class-action lawsuit stems from Apple's alleged misleading marketing of its Family Sharing feature. While Apple denies making any deceptive claims regarding third-party app subscriptions in the settlement agreement, the company acknowledges that continuing to defend against the lawsuit would be both cumbersome and costly.

As a resolution, Apple has agreed to deposit $25 million into a settlement fund to bring closure to the case.

Checking Eligibility and Filing a Claim for Apple's Settlement

Users in the United States who were part of a Family Sharing group with at least one other participant and paid for a third-party subscription through the App Store between June 21, 2015, and January 30, 2019, are eligible for compensation.

To file a claim and receive the class payment, individuals must visit the Walter Peters vs. Apple Inc. lawsuit page, navigate through the information, and locate the Payment Election Form.

Upon identification as a class member, Apple will notify individuals through an independent Settlement Advisor. Eligible users have until March 1, 2024, to opt in for a class payment via check or ACH transfer, with the final approval hearing scheduled for April 2, 2024.

Determining the Amount of Apple's $25 Million Payout

Each class member opting to receive a payment, following the provided instructions, may receive up to $30. However, the final class payment will depend on the number of claims submitted.

Regardless, the ultimate amount per individual will not exceed $50, and a portion of Apple's $25 million settlement will be allocated to cover attorney fees, with a cap of $10 million.

Apple, like other major tech companies, has faced various class-action lawsuits. In this instance, Apple has chosen to settle without admitting fault, liability, or any wrongdoing, providing affected users with a means of compensation through this payout.