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Last year, Apple faced a class-action lawsuit over iOS games using the freemium model, which parents argued allowed children to easily rack up hundreds or thousands of dollars with in-app purchases. Apps would normally require a password before completing an in-app purchase, but iOS previously provided a 15-minute window after users entered their password, which subsequently allowed any in-app purchases within the time frame to complete without needing the password again. Of course, Apple no longer offers the 15-minute window. Eric Goldman’s blog (via PaidContent) reported this week that Apple’s request to dismiss the class-action suit, which alleges the company violated consumer protection laws, was refused. U.S. District Judge Edward Da Vila upheld four of the five claims from parents involved in the case:
PaidContent explained Apple is “relying on contract law arguments such as whether each in-app purchase was a transaction or (as Apple argues) whether the overall iTunes terms of service should apply to all the purchases. There is also a dispute about how contract law applies to minors.” Apple is expected to submit a defense for the case May 24.
