Apple has quietly confirmed reports that Taiwanese App Store shoppers now have access to a seven-day refund period, according to IDG News. Local App Store terms have been amended to reflect the change, which was demanded by the Taipei city government to comply with consumer protection laws. To qualify for a refund, a person must delete all of the copies of an app in question.
Taiwan is so far the only country in which an Apple App Store allows refunds. Had Apple not made the change, it faced the possibility of a fine up to $1.5 million NT, or about $51,988 US. Guo Tingguang, a spokesman for Taipei's Law and Regulation Commission, says the government's next task is to work with Apple to provide more Chinese translations for apps, since many descriptions are limited to English.
Google was also warned about the need for a refund system, but has taken a very different stance. It has so far refused to modify the Android Market, and has already been fined $1 million NT ($34,658 US) as a result. The company says it disagrees with the city's take on the consumer protection act and is appealing the fine.
Google and Taipei are nevertheless in talks about Market rules. The latter party has imposed a two-week deadline to comply with protection laws, although what might happen is unclear. "After two weeks, we will then determine what action to take, but right now we don't have a specific stance," says Guo.
by MacNN Staff
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