Apple has revised the general terms and conditions for the use of its media services in Germany. The company is currently obtaining the approval of all users for the changes: Anyone who wants to continue using the group’s services (“Apple Media Services”), for example to be able to install apps on their iPhone or iPad, must inevitably accept the new conditions. The request is displayed as soon as a new app is to be downloaded, for example. In addition to the App Store, the provider’s services include Apple Music, Arcade, Fitness + and Apple TV.
Loading iPhone apps requires acceptance of the new terms.
Apple doesn’t clearly list changes
The user is only presented with a long view of the entire text of the new terms and conditions for reading and consent, changes are not clearly noted or highlighted.
In addition to minor adjustments in the text, Apple has added a core passage for its in-house subscription offers (“Apple paid subscription”). These include Apple Music, Apple TV +, Apple Arcade, iCloud + or the Apple One bundle offer. Apple could “increase the subscription price proportionally” if the “costs of licensing content” rise, it says in the new version. However, “every compensatory reduction in the other cost elements” will be taken into account. The user should be informed about price increases. Obtaining consent at a higher price – as is required for subscriptions to third-party services – does not seem to be envisaged.
New conditions apparently only for Germany
The aforementioned change to the terms and conditions has not yet taken place in Austria and Switzerland, and the conditions in the USA and other countries remain the same as in September 2021.
According to its own account, Apple now has over 745 million paid subscriptions on its platforms. In addition to the subscriptions for Apple’s in-house service, this also includes all subscriptions that were concluded in apps – and thus billed via Apple’s in-app purchase interface (In-App Purchase – IAP).
(lbe)