Apple Settles Lawsuit Over In-App Purchases from “Bait Apps”

Mmmm…Smurfberries…argghhh…(Homer Simpson voice)

Apple has agreed to settle a lawsuit over “bait apps,” where minors fell victim to in-app purchases after downloading free apps, reports GigaOM.

Under the terms of the settlement, Apple will offer a $5 iTunes credit to those who claim that a minor bought in-game items without their knowledge or permission. If the amount in question is more than $5, Apple will offer a credit for that amount. If the amount in question is over $30, an Apple user can claim a cash refund.

Apple was sued by parents back in 2011 after free apps with easy in-app purchases caused numerous accidental charges, with games such as “Tap Fish” being a major source of unwarranted purchases by minors.

The Cupertino company will soon email “over 23 million iTunes account holders who made a Game Currency purchase in one or more Qualified Apps,” so if you are one of them, you’ll find out soon enough. You’ll have to prove a minor made a “game currency” purchase and you did not provide the password.

The settlement requires preliminary approval from a federal judge, and if successful, payments could start as soon as later this year or in early 2014, should a judge approve the final settlement after all the claims are processed.