Dan Brecher
Counsel
212-286-0747 dbrecher@sh-law.comFirm Insights
Apple Offers Refunds in Response to “Breaking Bad” Lawsuit
Author: Dan Brecher
Date: September 27, 2013
Key Contacts
Back
Fans of AMC’s hit series “Breaking Bad” will not have to call in “attorney” Saul Goodman after all. Facing a class-action lawsuit and mounting bad publicity over its decision to divide the final season of the hit series into two parts on iTunes, Apple, Inc. will offer refunds to customers who believed they were buying all 16 episodes.
The issue arose after AMC decided to air the final season of “Breaking Bad” over the course of two years. The first eight episodes aired in 2012, and the second half premiered on August 11, 2013. The series finale will broadcast this Sunday.
Apple sold a “Season Pass” for the final season on iTunes, which many fans believed would provide access to all 16 episodes. However, when the show began airing the again this summer, fans discovered they would have to pay an additional $21.99 for high definition and $13.99 for standard definition for the final eight episodes.
The additional charge did not sit well with Noam Lazebnik, who filed a class-action suit against Apple. “When a consumer buys a ticket to a football game, he does not have to leave at halftime. When a consumer buys an opera ticket, he does not get kicked out at intermission. When a consumer buys a ‘Season Pass’ to a full season of a television show on iTunes, that consumer should get access to the whole season,” the complaint alleges.
Given that “Breaking Bad” is one of the most popular television downloads on iTunes, it appears Apple is taking the suit seriously. The company recently sent an email to iTunes users apologizing “for any confusion the naming of ‘Season 5’ and ‘The Final Season’ of Breaking Bad might have caused.”
Apple also announced that customers who purchased the “Breaking Bad” Season Pass will also receive a credit. As the Apple email explains, “While the names of the seasons and episodes associated with them were not chosen by iTunes, we’d like to offer you ‘The Final Season’ on us by providing you with the iTunes code below in the amount of $22.99. This credit can also be used for any other content on the iTunes Store. Thank you for your purchase.”
In this case, getting out in front of the lawsuit and the negative press that was likely to follow served Apple well. Instead of reporting only on the lawsuit, the media is now focusing on what the company is doing to make it right.
If you have any questions about this case or would like to discuss the legal issues involved, please contact me, Dan Brecher, or the Scarinci Hollenbeck attorney with whom you work.
- Practices: Litigation, Commercial Litigation - Business Litigation Attorney
- Locations: Red Bank, NJ, New York City, Little Falls, NJ
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Related Posts
See all
Don’t Overlook the Importance of Business License Management
If you operate a business without the proper license, you risk fines, insurance issues, reputational harm, and even business closure. Even innocent mistakes, like forgetting to renew a license, can have significant consequences, such as losing your lawsuit for payment of services that are unlicensed, which makes it imperative to have business license management procedures […]
Author: Dan Brecher
Failing to Comply With NJ Rent Control Exemption May Prove Costly
What Developers Need to Know About New Jersey’s Rent Control Exemption Law to Ensure Entitlement to Exemption for Newly Constructed Multi-family Housing. A property owner in Jersey City is facing a $400 million federal class action lawsuit alleging that the landlord did not follow the procedural steps required to be eligible for exemption from local […]
Author: Patrick T. Conlon
Crypto Securities Law: When Tokens Become Investment Contracts
The application of traditional federal securities laws to crypto assets continues to evolve. In some cases, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) considers tokens and other digital assets to be securities. This makes them subject to federal securities law, including the Securities Act of 1933 and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. This classification has […]
Author: Bryce S. Robins
The Due Diligence Process for NY Condominiums and Cooperatives
While the New York City real estate market can be extremely competitive, moving too quickly often backfires. Before purchasing a condominium or cooperative in New York City, it is important to do you homework. Purchasing property in NYC can involve a dizzying number of legal issues. These include condo and co-op rules, rent restrictions, and […]
Author: Jesse M. Dimitro
Smart Contract Legal Issues: Drafting Agreements for Blockchain
Smart contracts feature a unique blend of legal agreement and technical code. This innovation has the potential to reshape how business is conducted. At the same time, smart contract legal issues around enforceability, jurisdiction, identity, and compliance are common. The legal framework for these self-executing agreements is still evolving. What Are Smart Contracts? Smart contracts, […]
Author: Bryce S. Robins
Are Stay Interviews the Key to Retaining Top Talent?
Retaining top talent continues to be one of the greatest challenges facing employers today. Even in an employer’s market, the loss of a key employee can disrupt operations and result in significant costs. While compensation plays a role, long-term retention often depends on workplace culture, communication, and employee engagement. One increasingly popular strategy for improving […]
Author: Angela A. Turiano
No Aspect of the advertisement has been approved by the Supreme Court. Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.
Sign up to get the latest from our attorneys!
Explore What Matters Most to You.
Consider subscribing to our Firm Insights mailing list by clicking the button below so you can keep up to date with the firm`s latest articles covering various legal topics.
Stay informed and inspired with the latest updates, insights, and events from Scarinci Hollenbeck. Our resource library provides valuable content across a range of categories to keep you connected and ahead of the curve.