The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Tue, May 17, 2022 | 12:40
Tech
Apple blamed for loophole in mobile app refund policy
Posted : 2016-12-04 17:06
Updated : 2016-12-04 19:56
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
People line up to buy iPhone 7s at an SK Telecom sales outlet in central Seoul in this Oct. 21 file photo. / Courtesy of SK Telecom
People line up to buy iPhone 7s at an SK Telecom sales outlet in central Seoul in this Oct. 21 file photo.
/ Courtesy of SK Telecom

By Yoon Sung-won

Apple is drawing criticism for providing ammunition to abusers who benefit from loopholes in their closed mobile application store refund policies.

According to industry sources, Apple holds full control in paying refunds on paid for mobile content such as games. It determines whether to give refunds to consumers.

But the content developer cannot take part in the process under Apple's refund policy. Apple does not even provide information about the users who have requested and received the refund, claiming it is to protect consumer rights. For this reason, the developers have no other choice but to manually track down the users and check if they continue to use the charged content they have already received refunds for.

On the backdrop of this, some users have abused the loophole in Apple's refund policy to purchase charged content multiple times, request refunds and continue to consume the content without actually paying for it. In particular, some of the abusers have organized profitable businesses to operate the refund process on others' behalf.

Mobile game companies here have been the first to be damaged and this has also caused secondary problems for those who have paid fair prices for the same content.

Apple has not released a statement about the issue. In the process, mobile game companies here are taking their own measures to counteract Apple.

A Korean mobile game development studio Flint, which has provided the mobile role-playing game "Dragon Blaze" through its distribution partner Gamevil, has been struggling to tackle the abuse. The development company said it started a full analysis of user data since Nov. 23.

"By analyzing all payment data and logs, we have tracked down about 300 users who are suspected of abusing Appstore's refund policy," Flint CEO Kim Young-mo said in a posting on the official online community "Dragon Blaze," Nov. 28.

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

Next Floor, which is distributing another mobile game "Destiny Child" in Korea, also complained about the difficulties in dealing with abusers without Apple's cooperation.

"We are regulating those who abuse the payment process and damage other users under our management policy," the company said. "Unlike other application stores, Apple does not provide refund information to the game companies and we are having difficulties in promptly counteracting the problem."

Nexon and Longtu Korea, which are providing the mobile games "Heroes of Incredible Tales" and "Sword and Magic," respectively, have also started to block the accounts of abusers.

"The company has asked Apple for the lists of users who requested refunds several times already," a source from a mobile game company said. "But Apple did not respond. I cannot understand Apple's policy in that it does not provide the list of people who abuse the system even when it is already causing problems in the market."

In its refund policy, Google, which is operating the largest mobile application store business in Korea, states that users can receive refunds on charged mobile content only once if they request it within two hours after payment.


Emailyoonsw@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • [EXCLUSIVE] Samsung drops plan to enter electric vehicle market
  • Seoul making moves to rein in increasing subway crimes
  • Helicopter crashes in Geoje; 3 seriously injured
  • Champion Cho A-yean's weakness
  • North Korea wrestles with worst health crisis
  • South Korea's new COVID-19 cases hit 4-month low amid efforts for return to normalcy
  • Korean Lee Kyoung-hoon defends PGA Tour title in Texas
  • T'way Air to open Incheon-Singapore route this month
  • North Korean leader issues special order on medicine supply against epidemic: state media
  • Finance minister, central bank chief see eye to eye on policy coordination
  • What do Hong Kong students think of Korea? What do Hong Kong students think of Korea?
  • Kim Seon-ho to play male lead in 'Touching the Void' this July Kim Seon-ho to play male lead in 'Touching the Void' this July
  • Britney Spears says she has lost baby in a miscarriage Britney Spears says she has lost baby in a miscarriage
  • [INTERVIEW] 'Monstrous' creator Yeon Sang-ho gives his thoughts on divided reaction [INTERVIEW] 'Monstrous' creator Yeon Sang-ho gives his thoughts on divided reaction
  • Award-winning play explores family longing, aims to go global Award-winning play explores family longing, aims to go global
DARKROOM
  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

  • End of mask mandates

    End of mask mandates

  • Rio Carnival returns after two-year hiatus

    Rio Carnival returns after two-year hiatus

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group