Has anyone gotten Apple to permanently delete a movie?

[dingleborder]

There are a few old digital copies I redeemed on my account years ago, and I was wondering if anyone has had any luck calling iTunes and getting a film permanently removed from their account?
Yes, I am aware of the "hide purchase" option, but I really just want to fully delete a few titles.

[ManOfTheForest]

Originally Posted by Jack5555

There are a few old digital copies I redeemed on my account years ago, and I was wondering if anyone has had any luck calling iTunes and getting a film permanently removed from their account?
Yes, I am aware of the "hide purchase" option, but I really just want to fully delete a few titles.

I've asked this of iTunes support a few times over the years and they say it is not possible.

They've never been able to explain why.

[Rik1138]

It's like that free U2 album that was given to EVERYONE... A lot of people hated that, and were actually pissed that it showed up in their inventory. They didn't want to 'hide it', they didn't want any record of it being in their account. At first Apple said they could not remove it as it was considered a 'purchase'.

Eventually, they caved in and created a special link people could click on to actually delete the album from your account permanently...

So, they CAN do it, they just won't. Probably just to avoid any legal issues or hassles if you suddenly change your mind a few years later and want it back...

Just like how you can still watch a movie you purchased that has been completely removed from the store. Since you bought it, you will always have access to it, even if the studio removes it from digital sale completely. Once you buy it, you own it for life.

[ManOfTheForest]

Originally Posted by Rik1138

It's like that free U2 album that was given to EVERYONE... A lot of people hated that, and were actually pissed that it showed up in their inventory. They didn't want to 'hide it', they didn't want any record of it being in their account. At first Apple said they could not remove it as it was considered a 'purchase'.

Eventually, they caved in and created a special link people could click on to actually delete the album from your account permanently...

So, they CAN do it, they just won't. Probably just to avoid any legal issues or hassles if you suddenly change your mind a few years later and want it back...

Just like how you can still watch a movie you purchased that has been completely removed from the store. Since you bought it, you will always have access to it, even if the studio removes it from digital sale completely. Once you buy it, you own it for life.

I remember that U2 business but did not know it can be removed. Do you know how I can get that done?

I was always always suspicious of whether it was a case that Apple cannot or will not remove an unwanted purchase.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by ManOfTheForest

I remember that U2 business but did not know it can be removed. Do you know how I can get that done?

I was always always suspicious of whether it was a case that Apple cannot or will not remove an unwanted purchase.

Its the way iCloud was designed to work with iTunes.

Its not storing the actual digital files because that’s too large. Instead it stores a history of purchases/redemptions which is then used to provide the appropriate stream/file.

So if you bought The Venture Brothers Season 1 back in 2006. Then downloaded it immediately, your download is based on the older Apple iTunes standards so low resolution and basic digital sound. However when accessed from iCloud, you will find it looks and sounds better. The purchase history says you own the right to play this file. So if improvements are made or iTunes Extras are added, Apple can provide these instantly.

So if you are requesting Apple to “delete” a movie, you are actually asking them to alter or delete a purchase history. That is why they decline deleting movies because they literally can not do it.

So the tool to remove the U2 album actually didn’t delete the album, it forces a refund of the “pushed” purchase. That refund essentially “removed” it from iCloud.

Here is the link to remove the album.

[ManOfTheForest]

Originally Posted by steve_dave

Its the way iCloud was designed to work with iTunes.

Its not storing the actual digital files because that’s too large. Instead it stores a history of purchases/redemptions which is then used to provide the appropriate stream/file.

So if you bought The Venture Brothers Season 1 back in 2006. Then downloaded it immediately, your download is based on the older Apple iTunes standards so low resolution and basic digital sound. However when accessed from iCloud, you will find it looks and sounds better. The purchase history says you own the right to play this file. So if improvements are made or iTunes Extras are added, Apple can provide these instantly.

So if you are requesting Apple to “delete” a movie, you are actually asking them to alter or delete a purchase history. That is why they decline deleting movies because they literally can not do it.

So the tool to remove the U2 album actually didn’t delete the album, it forces a refund of the “pushed” purchase. That refund essentially “removed” it from iCloud.

Here is the link to remove the album.

I did not pay for the U2 album but do you mean it acted like a refund?

I wonder how those boys felt about all the giving out.

[steve_dave]

Originally Posted by ManOfTheForest

I did not pay for the U2 album but do you mean it acted like a refund?

I wonder how those boys felt about all the giving out.

Apple gave us a U2 album free by adding it to our purchase history. Thereby allowing the album and songs to be accessed through iCloud.

Because Apple can not delete what is not there, you have to go through a “refund” process that removes it from the purchase history.

Apple has the ability to refund purchases within a certain time frame which prevents an iCloud account from accessing that file. However because this is limited in time, purchases can’t be refunded after a certain amount of time has passed. With Movies Anywhere, the purchase history comes from MA; that’s why you have to connect it. An iCloud account sees the purchase in either iTunes or MA and allows access to the file.

That’s how iTunes can weed out films that get a 4K upgrade and those that remain HD. Any purchases verified in iTunes get a 4K upgrade if qualified, purchases verified in MA don’t.