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FREE EBOOKS: Apple falls into line with EU refund laws

Buy digi-thing, return within 14 days. What could go wrong?

Apple has brought its latest terms and conditions in line with the EU's consumer laws, allowing customers to demand a refund for apps, ebooks and music within two weeks of purchase.

Users of Apple's App Store, Mac App Store, iTunes Store and iBooks in Germany, France, Spain, Poland, and the Netherlands (as well as non-EU Norway) can now cancel purchases if they have a receipt.

The new rules do not apply to iTunes gift cards, which cannot be refunded once the code has been redeemed.

According to the American and Canadian T&Cs, “all sales and rentals of products are final”, so the move is clearly an effort to bring the fruity firm in line with the EU's Consumer Rights Directive.

The law was adopted by the European Parliament in June 2014, by 615 votes to 16 (and 21 abstentions).

MEPs hope it will boost confidence in the European digital market, but some app developers fear some users will avail themselves of products for 14 days before getting a refund - a lot of people can finish an ebook in two weeks, given a long enough commute into work. ®

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