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Transfer purchases to another ID

guys, i wanna ask about transfering purchases to another ID.

my sister has an apple ID. now, she doesn't use any apple product anymore, but she has purchased many apps, now, i'm using her ipad, and i want to move her purchases to my account, due to, she dont want to tell me her ID password, any help?

or can i change the ownership of the apps?

iPad 2, iOS 5.0.1

Posted on Mar 6, 2012 5:48 PM

Reply
531 replies

Mar 30, 2017 4:22 PM in response to ibgb

You can gift the apple ID to someone too


Would you please post the relevant info from Apple for that. Exactly how are you going to "gift" it?


https://appleid.apple.com/faq/#!&page=faq


https://support.apple.com/apple-id




your sister could change the email address to yours, and her credit card info to yours, then tell you the apple ID password. She would then make a new apple id if she ever used apple products again.


Any download/purchase is NOT transferable. Before posting suggestions which would violate Apple's terms, may I suggest you read the terms & conditions; here is an excerpt:


Scope of License: Licensor grants to you a nontransferable license to use the Licensed Application on any Apple-branded products that you own or control and as permitted by the Usage Rules. The terms of this Standard EULA will govern any content, materials, or services accessible from or purchased within the Licensed Application as well as upgrades provided by Licensor that replace or supplement the original Licensed Application, unless such upgrade is accompanied by a Custom EULA. Except as provided in the Usage Rules, you may not distribute or make the Licensed Application available over a network where it could be used by multiple devices at the same time. You may not transfer, redistribute or sublicense the Licensed Application and, if you sell your Apple Device to a third party, you must remove the Licensed Application from the Apple Device before doing so. You may not copy (except as permitted by this license and the Usage Rules), reverse-engineer, disassemble, attempt to derive the source code of, modify, or create derivative works of the Licensed Application, any updates, or any part thereof (except as and only to the extent that any foregoing restriction is prohibited by applicable law or to the extent as may be permitted by the licensing terms governing use of any open-sourced components included with the Licensed Application).

from here:


http://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/us/terms.html

Apr 28, 2017 6:34 PM in response to ibgb

You can try to interpret it your way; the legalities remain.


Using an example of loaning a keyboard is inconsequential and nonsensical and has nothing to do with the matter at hand: this discussion revolves around software, not an accessory.


So, would you care to copy/post the reference the OP made to loaning the device? I could not find it. The OP said:


guys, i wanna ask about transfering purchases to another ID.

my sister has an apple ID. now, she doesn't use any apple product anymore, but she has purchased many apps, now, i'm using her ipad, and i want to move her purchases to my account, due to, she dont want to tell me her ID password, any help?

or can i change the ownership of the apps?

Additionally, lending the software (which is what you are doing since it is embedded/part of the device) is a violation of the agreement - see this excerpt:

You may not rent, lease, lend, sell, redistribute, or sublicense the iOS Software.

From here:


http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/iOS10.pdf


Kindly check your facts before stating that someone is spreading misinformation.

Apr 29, 2017 6:13 AM in response to ibgb

The iOS license terms have nothing to do with the third party license terms of content you purchase from the App, iTunes or iBook stores. Those have their own license agreement - https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula/


The iOS license terms apply to iOS and iOS only. They do not even apply to other Apple software, such as Pages or Numbers, which have their own software licenses and terms. Similarly, OS X's or Windows license terms have nothing at all to do with the third party software you use on your computer.


Purchased content licenses are not transferrable, under any circumstances, as stated in their license terms. They are licensed for use by the purchaser on devices they own or control. Once you no longer own or control the device, the purchased content needs to be deleted. Third party purchases cannot "ride along" with the device and iOS.


That is part of the reason purchases are tied to an AppleID, and why an AppleID and its purchase history cannot be transferred or merged with another AppleID, nor can an AppleID and its purchase history be deleted.

Sep 12, 2017 7:58 PM in response to vaisefude

The legal terms state that apps' licenses are not transferable:


2. Permitted License Uses and Restrictions.

A. License.

Subject to the terms and conditions of this License, including but not limited to the

requirements and limitations in Section 2B, and as permitted in the “App Store Product Usage Rules” set

forth in the App Store Terms and Conditions (http://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/ww/)

(“Usage Rules”), unless you obtained the Apple Software as described in Section 2C, you are granted a

limited, non-transferable, non-exclusive license to install and use the Apple Software on any compatible

Apple-branded iOS device that you own or control. You may not distribute or make the Apple Software

available over a network where it could be used by multiple devices at the same time. You may not rent,

lease, lend, sell, redistribute or sublicense the Apple Software.

from here:

http://images.apple.com/legal/sla/docs/PagesiOS.pdf

I used the Pages app legal terms document; the language is the same for any other pre-installed app.

Jan 15, 2017 3:05 AM in response to Dah•veed

I want to transfer the purchases that I had from my first iPhone apple ID to my new apple ID both have a significant number of purchases on them. I'm happy to close the old ID completely but I want the movies, TV Shows and Music to be transferred, in this instance I'm not transferring to any other person both ID's are in my name so how can this be achieved. I cannot use family sharing as you can only have 2 adults and this is already myself and my husband. I personally feel that if Apple cannot find a way to transfer purchases from duplicate ID's people will simply go to the alternative and no one wins. Especially since many of us had apple ID's long before they became a significant form of ID.

Jan 15, 2017 3:13 AM in response to tandawhitford

You can't transfer purchases between accounts, nor can you merge accounts, and you can't close or delete an account (you can only remove personal info, e.g. payment details, and stop using them).

I cannot use family sharing as you can only have 2 adults

Why do you think that ? You can have up to 6 accounts in family sharing (organiser account and five members), all of which can be adult accounts.

Mar 30, 2017 4:06 PM in response to Lan_Holmes

I think one must pre-plan their purchases. Have a separate email address for each apple id. Then you can have multiple apple ids. Maybe one for music, one for software, a general purpose one, etc.


Buying music? log into the itunes store with the right ID and purchase the music.


But once things are purchased, they are tagged to an ID, and that is not going to change.


An ID is probably just a big integer in a database with an associated email address, credit card, etc. You can change the email address (but don't have the same email address with multiple IDs), the credit card, etc. You can gift the apple ID to someone too; but maybe remember to change the credit card associated with the ID.


So Lan, your sister could change the email address to yours, and her credit card info to yours, then tell you the apple ID password. She would then make a new apple id if she ever used apple products again.


Why wouldn't this work?

Mar 30, 2017 5:36 PM in response to Michael Black

It gets a bit silly, does't it?


How does anybody know if Lan's sister loaned the ipad, for a definite time, or indefinite time, or said he could have the ipad? And does it make much difference in the real world? The result is probably indistinguishable in the real world. I'm sure there are many instances of hand-me-down device transfers going on all the time.

Mar 30, 2017 6:22 PM in response to ibgb

Whether it gets silly or not, the plain fact is that individuals have been successfully sued, in a few cases for personally disastrous amounts, in civil court over such "loans" of protected intellectual property in the past. The motion picture industry in particular is very aggressive about such law suits. So advising someone to loan DRM licensed material without pointing out that others have been sued by industry over it is irresponsible at best, and reckless at worst.


The whole definition of what constitutes a reasonable "definite vs. indefinite" time has already been determined by the courts. So it's not for me or you to say - the legal precedent, if sued over such a thing, is all that matters.

Mar 30, 2017 6:24 PM in response to ibgb

You misunderstood.


You can sell or give away an iPhone, iPad, or whatever. So, hand-me-downs of a device are fine. However, you do not transfer the Apple ID account and you cannot "gift" an Apple ID. Giving someone your Apple ID and password is just like handing someone your housekey with the invitation to come and steal whatever they want - if they have your ID, they can order anything online, steal your identity, and cause great harm.


And, the software license is NOT transferable, so you cannot transfer apps, etc. They must be removed before you sell or give away your iPhone. If you do, you may find yourself in court because the software is not transferable and you are violating the T&C. And, unless you have given your Apple ID and password to the buyer, they will not be able to update anything because you can't without using the original Apple ID. So, it won't work anyway.


As for the "real world" - I guess it depends on what type of person you are. If you do the right thing, you will want to observe rules and laws; if you don't care about those, you may get away with it for a while, but it'll catch up with you sooner or later and you will pay for it one way or another.

Apr 3, 2017 12:34 PM in response to babowa

People,

I keep addressing the original topic, but there's many other things of a tangential nature brought into the discussion which has little to do directly with Lan's and his sister's situation. But I understand why people have so many questions about their situation.


I think the beneficial service these forums provide is that they can increase human understanding. And doesn’t that make the world a better place? But we must deal with facts; not vague statements, innuendo, but with facts. There are many statements which are brought in which do not apply to Lan’s question, the original poster, about which I have been talking. Those statements muddy the waters, cloud people’s minds, and don’t necessarily represent the truth of Lan’s situation, nor help with our understanding of it. It may not be a conscious decision to confuse and control fellow human beings, but instead echoes of previous page discussions. But I have only been talking about Lan’s situation; maybe some people are talking about other situations. For instance, selling, wiping etc. It may be best to discuss one situation at a time. I will focus mostly on Lan’s situation, but will address some of the other things brought into the discussion. With that goal in mind, I offer the following:


Fact: the TOS is actually not the final say of what one is required to do but rather the laws of the land or the courts have the final say. It is perfectly legal to sell or transfer licenses for software, even if the TOS says you can’t—-in the EU, for instance. It depends on the laws in the jurisdiction in which one lives. Google-ize-(eyes) the case of “Oracle verses UsedSoft”. Oracle, a somewhat litigious company, sued UsedSoft because they were selling used software licenses for the Oracle database. It was against Oracle's TOS, but in spite of that it is perfectly legal in the EU to sell and transfer software licenses (with clear documentation one is actually transferring the purchased license). In short, the corporate lawyers may write the TOS to the advantage of the corporation—I am shocked!— and restrict your rights, but those restrictions may be non binding depending on the law of the land. So you have to know the law in the jurisdiction where you live. For another example:


https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2016/07/nobody-reads-tos-agreements-even-one s-that-demand-first-born-as-payment/?comments=1

https://tech.slashdot.org/story/16/07/13/2010231/tos-agreements-require-giving-u p-first-born----and-users-gladly-consent


People agreed to giving up their first born in TOS click box. Now in many countries it is illegal to trade children, and that part of the TOS is not enforceable and can be ignored. From somebody who said they were a lawyer:


“Short summary: If the license says something that is enforceable in court, odds are super good that you can't get it removed with anything short of an activist campaign. If that's not your thing, you're still a decent human being for not caring. I understand that you have other priorities. If the license says something that is not enforceable in court, why should you care at the outset? Deal with it if the circumstance arises. Again, you have other priorities.

I call it pragmatism. I don't care whether you do or not.”


But getting back and focusing on Lan and sister’s case. From my experience in a family, if somebody says you can use something it usually is usually a loan. Sometimes later the sibling could ask for the item’s return. Sometimes not. It really is often ambiguous. Would you not be surprised with the following discourse?

Lan “Hey sis, are you using that iPad?”

sis: “Nay, you can use it.”

Lan: “Really? Thanks!”


Do you think family members are conceptualizing whether this is a transfer of ownership, a limited loan, or some indefinite loan? or maybe not even thinking in those terms?


Lan tells us that it is still her iPad, she owns it and he is just using it: “now, i'm using her iPad, “

As long as she owns the iPad, how is she violating the TOS by letting her brother use it? Facts please. Isn’t it perfectly legal to let her brother borrow her iPad? With all the apps?


MB says: “The whole definition of what constitutes a reasonable "definite vs. indefinite" time has already been determined by the courts” What courts? Case law depends on similar cases. What is the case reference? Was it similar to somebody loaning an iPad with software on it? It wasn’t music or something else, was it? The rules are different for different things. And what was the courts’s determination? 6 months? 2 years? 1 week? What are the facts? and no alternative facts please. Back statements up with facts, please. As long as Lan’s sister owns the iPad, I think she can loan it with all the apps to her brother. How is this contrary to the TOS? Is there a time limit on her loan? Or is it as long as she owns it?


It is very good to back things up with actual facts, especially today. There is so much mis-information, trolls, bots, mis-understandings, that we should all be very skeptical of what we read on the internet, don’t you agree? I would appreciate any real references to similar cases, not just "people have been sued". Unfortunately the way things are today, references to facts, and similar cases which may apply to Lan and his sister, are very necessary in order to have a meaningful conversation which promotes understanding. Sometimes even that is not enough.


Out of curiosity, what is your opinion on Lan’s sister? Is she a good person for letting her brother use the iPad? or an immoral person for letting him use the iPad?


Of course, as she is loaning it to Lan there is no requirement to wipe it, as babowa pointed out:

“Licensor grants to you a nontransferable license to use the Licensed Application on any Apple-branded products that you own or control. “ As Lan said, Lan’s sister still owns the iPad: “she has purchased many apps, now, i'm using her iPad”


I can understand why she did not want to share her password as her credit card is linked to the Apple ID, but if she gets Lan to put his credit card on her account then she does not have to trust Lan; Lan hast to trust her. If Lan has little trust, or little credit, he can just put a prepaid Visa card on the account, and that would limit his damage. If she does have Lan’s credit card on her ID, she may then feel safe in sharing the password with her brother. If Lan is going to purchase items, he should get his own ID to purchase under, so when she wants her iPad back, or Lan wants to buy a new one, he can put his purchases on his new iPad. And yes, you can purchase and download items from different IDs as long as it’s, “on any Apple-branded products that you own or control “I think Lan is controlling the iPad.


“- You can use Content from up to five different Apple IDs on each device.”


This is something for parents too; get your kid to have their own Apple ID, but don’t put your credit card on their account, get them a pre-paid one, or one with a very low credit limit. Then when they move out, they can take all their music, apps, ebooks, etc. with their ID. When/if they get a non-pre-paid credit card they can put that on their account.


Married folks should have separate IDs too; they can be on the same credit card, which can be changed later if the need arises. That way they can share purchases on their Apple devices. Log into the iTunes store with the wife’s account, purchase and download her purchases, then logout of the wife’s account and login with the husband’s account for his purchases and downloads. As they both own the Apple devices this does not violate the TOS. Of course, check your states laws on property ownership of married couples. There may be minor differences depending upon the state. In some states property possessed prior to entering into marriage may be deemed to not be common property. (This is getting rather nit-picking, isn’t it? From the above urls, most people don’t even read the TOS.) I think property bought while married is common property, but check with your lawyer, of course! If there is a break up, they can each take their ID with them, but they would not have their ex-partner’s ID, all their partner’s items would eventually go away.


I ‘m not sure what the iTunes EU agreement says, but maybe EU folks would find it advantageous to make sure all software purchases were on a separate ID just for software; don’t mix in ebooks, music, movies.


I’m sure someone will say never share your password with your spouse, your kids, your brother, your sister. Of course we should all check with a lawyer before we share anything……blah blah blah.


Well that is about all I am going to say on this topic. I think the whole situation has needlessly be muddied up, obfuscated, by all kinds of non-applicable statements. I also don't think Lan's sister is going to be hauled into court either, as she seems to be following the TOS. I think it’s nice for her to help Lan.


Apr 3, 2017 1:34 PM in response to ibgb

This is not a court of law where one can debate the merits of a particular rule of law. These are technical question and answer forums.


We are users and I merely made the OP aware of the software licensing agreement.


I am not getting into an irrelevant discussion with you. I have better things to do.


And, it is of no relevance or importance what I or anyone else think about the licensing agreement or if we agree with it or not. Personally, I prefer not to violate rules I have agreed to.

Transfer purchases to another ID

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