Clean up the Language! The UK tells Apple.

In a press release posted Friday from the UK’s Office of Fair Trading it’s stated that Apple has agreed to clean up the language in their terms and conditions.

The contract or terms of use between a company and a consumer, whether they are found online or on paper, must be clear, fair and easy to understand. In particular, it is important that consumers are given clear and accurate information about their consumer rights in case things go wrong. We have worked closely with Apple to secure these changes and we believe they will improve confidence and clarity for consumers – Jason Freeman, Legal Director, OFT

The change will also include Apple’s terms and conditions for online purchases at iTunes and the app store.

Apple is said to have agreed to rectify the following language based on concerns discussed with UK’s Office of Fair Trading:

* do not exclude liability for faulty or mis-described goods

* are consistent with consumer rights under the Distance Selling Regulations

* are drafted in plain or intelligible language

* do not potentially allow changes to be made to products and prices after an agreement is made.

This isn’t the first time Apple’s been a focus of the OFT. In 2004 the Office of Fair Trading referred unfair pricing complaints to the European Commission regarding iTunes pricing.

UK customers were being charged more for identical services and were unable to benefit from cheaper prices on iTunes. The OFT claimed Apple should not “discriminate” for an identical service based on your location.