When you enter the Google Play Store and search for games, sometimes you select the ones that are free. Those may appear at first to be entirely cost free, maybe there are just some adverts to put up with, but some can also include costly in-app purchases.
Hidden payments are all about to change on Android devices thanks to an agreement between Google and the European Commission. Legislation passed has meant Google will now change the labeling on those games that include in app purchases as well as changing the way the default payment scheme is set up.
EU Vice President Neelie Kroes said, "The Commission is very supportive of innovation in the app sector. In-app purchases are a legitimate business model, but it's essential for app-makers to understand and respect EU law while they develop these new business models”.
Apple has been told to step up its game as well. The company has been accused of misleading children with the premise of “free” apps by the European Commission. Apple may face legal action if it doesn’t begin to change the way its policies are set up.
The European Commission has told Apple it has four points to work on which are as follows.
1) Games advertised as "free" should not mislead consumers about the true costs involved.
2) Games should not contain direct exhortation to children to buy items in a game or to persuade an adult to buy items for them.
3) Consumers should be adequately informed about the payment arrangements for purchases and should not be debited through default settings without consumers’ explicit consent.
4) Traders should provide an email address so that consumers can contact them in case of queries or complaints.
It seems the European Commission is really stepping it up a notch in its crackdown on “free-to-play” games. It doesn’t seem to have a problem with the premise itself, just the way it can be marketed as an entirely free title but still contain hidden payments.
by jamesp via Featured Articles
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