Micro-transactions in 3.0 OS result in iTunes legal tweak
New terms and conditions for 'virtual ammunition'
While developers are pondering what sort of money-making ploys they will be attempting thanks to the launch of the 3.0 OS for iPhone and iPod touch (there are lots of other features too, remember), Apple's lawyers have already suggested one option.
As you'll find out when you next download something from iTunes, there have been some changes to the terms and conditions, so you'll have to re-click that you've read and agree with them.
Two of the three changes don't seem to apply to 3.0, as they deal with managing products and services from different devices (PC, iPhone, iPod touch), and a clarification of propriety information owned by iTunes and its licensors.
Much more interesting however is the clause concerning In App purchases.
This specifies that such items may only allow you to downloaded them once and aren't transferable between devices, unlike other iTunes media such as music tracks.
The full legalese reads
Certain Products may include functionality that enables you to purchase additional services, or licences to additional functionality or content for use within the Product ("In App Purchases"). In App Purchases that are consumed during the use of the Product (e.g., virtual ammunition) cannot be transferred among devices; can only be downloaded once; and after being downloaded, they cannot be replaced. Once a consumable In App Purchase is purchased and received by you, iTunes' liability to you in the event of any loss or destruction of, or damage to, such In App Purchase shall be as set forth in clause 28 hereof. All In App Purchases are deemed Products, and In App Purchases made within Third Party Products are deemed Third Party Products, and treated as such, for purposes of these terms and conditions.We like the phrase "consumable In App Purchase" but we think the lawyers got really excited when they realised they could use the term "virtual ammunition" in a document.
