Apple customers can claim one-time payments from $15m settlement – but you must have made 12 purchases to be eligible
EBOOK readers could find themselves the recipients of a massive payday.
Readers who have bought 12 ebooks between April 1, 2010 and March 10, 2017 are eligible to receive a cut from a $15 million lawsuit.
The lawsuit alleges that Apple, Apple Canada, and various major publishers of ebooks conspired to “fix, maintain, increase or control the price of ebooks” sold in Canada.
According to the class action settlement’s website, the publishers have denied the allegations, and none of the claims have been proven in court.
The defendants have since agreed to pay out $15.175 million to settle the case.
The site states that those claimants who bought 12 or more eligible ebooks from Google, Amazon, Sony, Kobo, or iTunes are eligible to receive the payout.
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Books published or distributed by Hachette, Harper Collins, MacMillan, Penguin and Simon & Schuster are part of the claim.
It should be noted that ebooks published or distributed by Penguin Random House Canada Limited after December 31, 2014 have been excluded.
Those wishing to submit a claim must do so by September 23, 2024.
According to the site, readers who have a valid email address through iTunes or Kobo are automatically enrolled in the claim and don't have to do anything.
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It is further stated that iTunes and Kobo users would be getting an email confirming their participation in the claim.
People who submit a claim through the online form will receive a mailed check with the owed amount to the address used while filling out the form.
Those who are enrolled through iTunes and Kobo should expect to receive credits deposited in their account.
It is noted that the funds will be forfeited if the account is closed before the transfer is made.
If the iTunes account isn’t active or has been not used within a year prior to when the data was reviewed, but is still linked to a valid email address, you will automatically get paid via e-transfer.
Those participating in the lawsuit should expect the funds sometime in Fall 2024.
Ebook lawsuit eligbility
Here's the complete list of how you may be eligible for the ebook lawsuit
- Bought 12 ebooks between April 1, 2010 and March 10, 2017
- Bought 12 or more eligible ebooks from Google, Amazon, Sony, Kobo, or iTunes
- Books were published or distributed by Hachette, Harper Collins, MacMillan, Penguin and Simon & Schuster
- Those looking for a payout by September 23, 2024
Apple's new lawsuit comes after the software company announced that it would be giving Americans a one-time payment of up to $349 if they owned an iPhone 7.
The complaint surrounds the "failure of the audio integrated circuit" of these devices caused by defective audio chips.
Apple is accused of "concealing a material defect that ultimately causes iPhone audio features to become unresponsive and
fail of their essential purpose as smartphones."
The lawsuit added that the tech giant had "long been aware" of the issue but "routinely refused to repair the iPhones without charge."
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"As a result of Apple’s unfair, deceptive, and/or fraudulent business practices, owners of the iPhones, including Plaintiffs, have suffered ascertainable losses," the suit claimed.
"The unfair and deceptive trade practices committed by Apple were conducted in a manner giving rise to substantial aggravating
circumstances."