A 10-year-old boy's ¥2.8 million "donation" leads to a lawsuit against TikTok and Apple—seeking a refund and questioning the cancellation of a minor's contract and platform responsibility

Table of Contents

1. Overview of the Case

2. What Will Be the Issues (Intersection of Law and Policy)

3. Basics of Japanese Law: Cancellation of Minor Contracts and "Existing Benefits"

4. TikTok's Mechanism and Age Restrictions & Refund Policy

5. Apple's Payment & Refund Flow and Parental Controls

6. Preventive Measures at Home (Practical Checklist)

7. Impact on Creators/Platforms

8. Insights from Overseas and Other Fields

9. Future Outlook and Key Points

10. Conclusion

1. Overview of the Case

Filed on July 9, 2025, at the Kyoto District Court. The plaintiff is the side of a 10-year-old boy at the time, and the defendants are ByteDance (Japan branch) and Apple Japan. According to the lawsuit, the boy used his brother's smartphone to make a large purchase of TikTok "coins" between June and August 2024. Approximately 900,000 yen has been refunded due to family consultations and petitions, but they are seeking a refund of the remaining approximately 2.8 million yen. Related reports indicate that the total billing amount, including other apps, is about 4.6 million yen, with TikTok accounting for about 3.7 million yen.Hatena BookmarkTalk | Everyone's Bulletin Board

2. What Will Be the Issues (Intersection of Law and Policy)

• Cancellation of Minor Contracts: Contracts entered into without parental consent can be canceled in principle—a basic principle under Japanese civil law. The applicability to digital goods billing on platforms is questioned.Saitama Prefecture Official Website

• "Existing Benefits": Upon cancellation, the minor is only required to return the "benefits remaining in hand." The handling of consumed coins and used digital items is a focal point.Bengoshi.com

• TikTok's Age Restrictions & Refund Policy: Cancellations and refunds are possible within 7 days of coin purchase without reason (except for used or expired items). The effectiveness of age restrictions, which require gifting use to be 18 or older (or higher depending on the region), is questioned.TikTok+1

• Apple's Refund Flow & Parental Controls: Refund requests can be made via the App Store's "Report a Problem." Utilizing family features like Ask to Buy and Screen Time is key to practical recurrence prevention.Apple SupportApple Developer

3. Basics of Japanese Law: Cancellation of Minor Contracts and "Existing Benefits"

Japanese civil law allows for the cancellation of legal acts (contracts) entered into by minors without the consent of a legal representative (such as a parent) (Civil Code Article 5). Once cancellation is established, the contract is treated as void from the beginning, raising issues such as the return of already paid money. On the other hand, it is commonly understood that the minor is obliged to return the benefits received that are **currently remaining (existing benefits)**. This is repeatedly explained in practical information.Saitama Prefecture Official WebsiteBengoshi.com

However, if a minor uses **"deception"** to make themselves appear as an adult, they cannot assert cancellation (Civil Code Article 21). Determining whether the age was falsified during online registration or whether the platform's age verification design was appropriate becomes crucial.Crea Co., Ltd.

4. TikTok's Mechanism and Age Restrictions & Refund Policy

TikTok's live "gifting" involves purchasing in-app currency (coins) → exchanging for gift items → sending to streamers, with the terms stating that cancellation and refund are possible within 7 days of purchase without reason (except for expired or used portions). Additionally, virtual items like coins and diamonds are intended for those **18 and older (or the age of majority in jurisdictions with higher ages)**, with stricter age restrictions confirmed as a policy since 2019.TikTok+1Newsroom | TikTok

In this case, (a) the route through which the minor accessed gifting, (b) the strength of actual age verification (KYC/identity verification or soft gating), and (c) the availability and operation of the 7-day cancellation may become key points related to legality and negligence in court.

5. Apple's Payment & Refund Flow and Parental Controls

In-app purchases via the App Store can be requested for a refund through the "Report a Problem" site, and if approved, the refund is made to the original payment method. The time required for the refund to reflect is also officially guided. Furthermore, Ask to Buy (requiring parental approval for child purchases) and Screen Time (restricting in-app purchases and age ratings) are provided as family features.

Whether the implementation and settings were appropriate is key in considering the division of duty of care between the payment service provider and the family's management responsibility.Apple Support+1Apple Developer

6. Preventive Measures at Home (Practical Checklist)

• Enable Family Sharing of Apple ID + Ask to Buy: Ensure approval flow from the child's device.Apple Developer

• Set "In-App Purchases" to "Do Not Allow" in Screen Time, and strictly enforce age ratings.Apple Developer

• Manage Payment Methods: Avoid linking credit cards to family devices, use gift cards or balance limits.

• Separate Devices and Accounts: Log in with a child-specific Apple ID (under family management) and strictly separate from adult devices/IDs.

• Check App Age Restriction Features: TikTok live gifting is not allowed for minors. Regularly check settings and identity verification status.TikTok

• Regularly Audit Usage History: Check App Store purchase history and telecom bills monthly.Apple Support

• Understand Refund Risks: Be aware of the limits of refund eligibility, such as days elapsed since purchase and consumed items.TikTok

7. Impact on Creators/Platforms

If refunds are widely granted, the certainty of earnings for streamers and the audit and KYC costs for platforms will increase. Design changes such as stricter age verification, two-step approval for high-risk actions (high-value gifts), default reduction of maximum amounts, and clearer UI for cooling-off may be encouraged. While these can enhance trust in the creator economy, they may also dampen the momentum of the tipping culture.

8. Insights from Overseas and Other Fields

In the U.S., discussions about suitability for younger audiences continue amid state lawsuits against platforms. The issue of app review, age rating, and safety measures is internationally watched, including reports of Apple expressing concerns about TikTok's rating and suitability for younger audiences.The Washington Post

9. Future Outlook and Key Points

• Fact-Finding: Age verification, parental consent, device/ID management status, the possibility of cancellation within 7 days, and the platform's response history are major points.

• Legal Evaluation: The scope of application for minor cancellation and the recognition of existing benefits ("what remains") will affect the amount.##HTML_TAG