Highlights:
- The plaintiff called Matthew Price alleges that he had purchased the content worth $25000.
- Matthew also alleges that Apple’s terms and conditions are unlawful.
- The company’s service clause suggests that the terminated user ID cannot access the purchased content.
- Apple holds the privilege to terminate a user ID if the user activities seem suspicious.
Introduction:
The lawsuit alleges that the media service’s terms and conditions are unlawful and unconscionable.
A lawsuit alleges that Apple and its media service terms and conditions which allow the company for the termination of an Apple ID. The lawsuit calls the terms are unlawful and unconscionable.
About the plaintiff filing the complaint:
The complaint was filed on Tuesday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. It talks about Apple service’s clause. The clause states that a user with a terminated Apple ID cannot access media content they have paid for.
Through the enforcement of its terms and conditions, Apple retains the right to terminate an Apple ID. Moreover, the lawsuit claims that Apple has the right to terminate an account merely because of suspicion.
Official Statement from the Lawsuit:
“Apple’s unlawful and unconscionable clause as a prohibited de facto liquidated damages provision which is triggered when Apple suspects its customers have breached its Terms and Conditions,” the lawsuit reads.
In addition to this, the complaint claims that users with Apple devices will have their products substantially diminished in value. This will happen only when the Apple IDs are terminated. In such a situation, the user won’t be able to access Apple service or purchased content.
About the Plaintiff, Matthew Price:
The plaintiff of the case, Matthew Price, has spent about $25000 on the content attached to his Apple ID. The company terminated Matthew’s Apple ID for alleged violation of terms and conditions. As a result, Mathew lost access to all the content he had purchased.
According to the plaintiff, he had purchased a lot of content for $25000. This included apps, in-app purchases, platform extensions, and related services.
Matthew also alleges that Apple prevents users from accessing unused funds in their Apple accounts. For instance, Matthew had about $7 in iTunes credit.
The lawsuit does not have any specifications as to why Matthew’s account faces termination. However, it claims that Apple shut down the ID without notice, explanation, policy, or process.
Apple’s conduct according to the plaintiff:
It goes to claim that Apple’s conduct is “unfair, unlawful, fraudulent, and illegal.” Apple’s conduct specifically includes the clause and resulting terminations. The plaintiff alleges that Apple violates several consumer regulations in California.
The lawsuit has been seeking class-action status with a nationwide class that consists of people in the US. These people are the people who face the termination of the Apple IDs.
It asks for a jury trial to seek a permanent injunction that bars Apple from engagement with unlawful behavior. The injunction also includes restitution of funds lost during ID termination, and attorney fees.
