Have you been injured by misleading advertising? Did you think you could split an iPhone subscription with your family, only to find you could not? Do you like money? Then you may be eligible for compensation.
Apple recently settled a class action lawsuit for $25 million. The case doesn't attack Apple for slowing down old iPhones, or allege that Apple stole medical technology; rather, this one focuses on Family Sharing, Apple's feature that lets you share certain subscriptions and perks with close friends and family.
The argument goes like this: Apple advertised Family Sharing as a means to share the cost of a subscription. However, third-party developers actually had the option to opt-out of this subscription sharing feature. So someone might subscribe to a platform they find on the App Store, thinking they can split it with up to five other people, only to find they're stuck with the bill all by themselves.
Apple, for their part, says they've done nothing wrong. However, they did agree to the multimillion dollar settlement anyway. Considering their market cap is currently north of $3 trillion, this is hardly a speeding ticket for the company.
How much money can you claim?
If eligible, you are entitled to at least $30. However, the final number depends on the total number of people who file a claim in this case. The total share per claimant could reach as much as $50. As for the lawyers, they'll receive up to $10 million. Seems fair.
How to make a claim in the Apple Family Sharing lawsuit settlement
The eligibility for the lawsuit settlement is actually pretty open. In order to claim your share, you simply need to have been enrolled in a Family Sharing group with at least one other person between June 21, 2015 and Jan. 30, 2019. In addition, you need to have been a U.S. resident at the time, and have purchased a subscription to a non-Apple app. So long as you meet those qualifications, you can claim your share.
You may be contacted directly if you are affected. If so, you will be given a PIN you can use as part of your claim, which you can file for online. However, you can still make a claim without the PIN, provided as you're okay doing so by mail. Either way, you can begin the claim process at this link.
If you make a claim, you relinquish your right to sue Apple over this action. If you'd prefer to leave that option open in the future, you won't be able to receive money at this time.