Developers Blame Apple For Mobile App Refund Policy Loophole

Content developers are blaming Apple's refund policies for a loophole, saying that the multinational technology company was providing ammunition for abusers.

Apple holds full control on paying refunds to consumers for the paid for mobile content like games. However, some consumers have abused the refund policy loophole by still using the apps they have bought from the app store even after they have them refunded.

Aside from not allowing the content developers to take part in the whole refund process, Apple does not also provide information about the users who have requested and claimed refunds for the apps they have bought. To protect the consumers' right, the technology company refused to provide such information. Because of this, content developers have to manually track down the users itself to check if they still use the apps they have already claimed refunds for.  

This loophole was causing damage to the mobile game companies as some consumers do not only abuse the refund policy loophole by using the app for "free". Some abusers are even earning profits by operating the refund process on other's behalf.  This doesn't only do damage on the mobile game companies, it is also unfair for the consumers who have fairly paid for the apps.

Since Apple has not released any statement about the issue yet, the mobile game companies are doing their own measures to counteract the issue.

"By analyzing all payment data and logs, we have tracked down about 300 users who are suspected of abusing Appstore's refund policy," says Kim Young-mo, CEO of a Korean mobile game development studio 'Flint'. They are the developer behind the mobile role-playing game "Dragon Blaze" which is distributed through Gamevil.

"We pledge to root out the abusers by requesting the judicial authorities for an investigation," he added.