UPDATE: On October 19, 2022, settlement payments began to be issued to those claimants for whom the Administrator obtained valid tax identification numbers. If the Administrator did not obtain valid tax identification number for you, your settlement payment has not been issued and a request for you to provide your tax identification number on IRS Form W9 or W8, will be mailed and emailed to you by November 4, 2022. If you are a US Citizen or entity, you may click HERE to complete your IRS Form W9.
If you have questions, you may send them to the Administrator at info@smallappdeveloperassistance.com.
If You Are a U.S. iOS App Developer You Could Get a Payment from a Settlement with Apple
A settlement has been reached with Apple Inc. (“Apple”) in an antitrust class action lawsuit brought by U.S. app developers about Apple’s App Store. The lawsuit alleged that Apple monopolized (or attempted to monopolize) an alleged iOS app and in-app product distribution services market in violation of U.S. antitrust and California unfair competition laws. Apple denies all allegations and the settlement is not an admission of wrongdoing by Apple.
You may be included in this settlement and entitled to receive a payment if you are or were a U.S. developer of any Apple iOS application or in-app product (including subscriptions) that:
- Was sold for a non-zero price;
- Was sold via Apple’s iOS App Store between 2015 and 2021; and
- Earned, together with any other iOS applications or in-app products (including subscriptions) sold through all of your associated developer accounts, proceeds equal to or less than $1,000,000.00 through the App Store U.S. storefront in every calendar year from 2015 to 2021 in which you had a developer account.
The criteria to be a “Settlement Class Member” are defined more fully in the notice relating to this settlement. U.S. developers who meet the criteria are entitled to a minimum cash payment ranging from $250 to $30,000.
Your legal rights are affected whether you act or don’t act. Read this website carefully. It addresses each of the following options available to you:
| YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OPTIONS IN THIS SETTLEMENT | |
|---|---|
STAY IN THE CLASS AND FILE A VALID CLAIM AND RECEIVE PAYMENT |
If you submit a timely and valid claim form, you are entitled to a cash payment (with minimums ranging from $250 - $30,000) from the $100 million Small Developer Assistance Fund established as part of this settlement. You will lose the ability to sue Apple for claims related to this case. (See FAQs 11-13.) |
ASK TO BE EXCLUDED FROM THE SETTLEMENT |
If you decide to exclude yourself from this settlement, you will lose the ability to obtain a payment from the Small Developer Assistance Fund. But you may keep the ability to sue Apple for claims related to this case. (See FAQs 14-16.) |
OBJECT TO THE SETTLEMENT |
If you do not exclude yourself from the settlement, you may still object to it by writing to the Court to explain the basis for your objection. (See FAQ 20.) |
SPEAK AT THE HEARING ON JUNE 7, 2022 AT 2 P.M. |
If you object to the settlement, you may ask the Court for permission to speak at the Final Approval Hearing about your objection. (See FAQ 24.) |
DO NOTHING (NO DEADLINE) |
If you take no action, you get no payment and you give up your legal right to continue to sue Apple for claims related to this case. |
These rights and options – and the deadlines to exercise them – are explained in the notice.