Storm8 admits it collected phone numbers of millions of unknowing Apple iPhone customers, according to the lawsuit.
San Francisco, Calif., Nov 05, 2009 (PRNewsChannel.com via COMTEX News Network) -- A class action lawsuit reveals that Storm8, the developer of popular iPhone video games such as iMobsters, Vampires Live, and World War, collected the phone numbers of millions of its customers without their consent.
The lawsuit alleges that Storm8 exploited a backdoor electronically--meaning it accessed the phone numbers of the iPhones on which its games were installed--a practice Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) does not authorize App makers to do. According to the lawsuit, every time an iPhone user downloaded a Storm8 game, a piece of malicious software code captured the phone number of the iPhone to which it was downloaded, and transmitted the number back to Storm8.
After the media began reporting the issue in late August, Storm8 admitted it was doing so and that it would cease harvesting phone numbers. The suit is brought by Michael Turner from the Seattle area. Mr. Turner downloaded several Storm8 games to his iPhone.
Storm8 has apparently recognized the error of its ways, but that does not change the fact that it harvested millions of phone numbers without telling consumers, and it does nothing to assure consumers that it will not do so again in the future, explained Michael Aschenbrener, the lead attorney for the class action. Storm8 had no right to collect this sensitive personal information without first getting permission from each customer.
The class action seeks injunctive relief and monetary damages for harvesting the personal information of millions of people.
Aschenbreners firm, KamberEdelson, LLC (http://www.kamberedelson.com), is a leading class action firm that focuses on internet, technology, and privacy issues. According to Aschenbrener, companies have to learn that they are not free to exploit the personal information of their customers any time they want to.
Aschenbrener is joined on the lawsuit by Jay Edelson of KamberEdelson.
Download: http://www.prnewschannel.com/pdf/Complaint_Storm_8_Nov_04_2009.pdf
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