Apple recently agreed to settle a class-action lawsuit over its Family Sharing feature. In this article, we’ll share how you can determine if you’re eligible for a piece of the payout and if you are, how to file a claim.
The Walter Peters class-action lawsuit alleged that Apple had misled its customers with advertising until 2019 which it said misled customers into believing that Apple’s Family Sharing feature was available for apps that did not support it.
“Apple has made millions of dollars in fraudulent sales to individuals who Apple told were receiving up to six copies of an App when they were receiving only one,” the lawsuit alleged.
While Apple has denied any wrongdoing, it did agree to settle the lawsuit for $25 million.
Who is Eligible for the Apple Family Sharing Lawsuit Payout?
You are eligible if:
- You are a U.S. resident
- You were enrolled in Apple Family Sharing with at least one other person between June 21, 2015 and January 30, 2019
- You purchased a subscription to a third-party app through Apple’s App Store during that time
How to Submit a Claim for a Piece of the Apple Family Sharing Lawsuit
- Visit the Walter Peters vs Apple Inc. website
- Indicate whether you’d like to submit your claim online or by mail.
- If you already received a letter, you can then enter your PaymentID and PIN, if not, you are still allowed to submit a claim.
- Click Next to finish.
You have until March 1, 2024, to submit a claim.
How Much of a Payment Will I Get?
Don’t expect to be able to buy a new iPhone with your payment. However, you might be able to buy a nice case for your iPhone.
Unfortunately, lawyers don’t usually file these class-action suits for free, so $10 million of the $25 million is going to attorneys’ fees. (Upkeep on their summer homes and yachts can be expensive, dont’cha know.)
The remaining $15 million will be split among eligible Apple customers. While it’s unclear at the moment exactly how much each claimant will receive, payments will max out at $50 per person.
For more information about the settlement, visit the landing page for Walter Peters v. Apple and read the full settlement agreement here.
