Users seek refunds as Apple’s iBook, iTunes services blocked in China

People using Apple’s iTunes Movies and iBook services in China have sought refunds for the purchases after reports of blocking of these services surfaced, a media report said on Friday.

Cupertino-based Apple is yet to issue a broad statement to its customers in China about the status of the services but several users said that they have been unable to connect to the movie service and iBook since last week, Los Angeles Times reported.

“We hope to make books and movies available again to our customers in China as soon as possible but would not elaborate on why the services were unavailable,” a Beijing-based Apple spokesperson was quoted as saying in the report.

The Chinese government has not issued any statement on the matter either.

Meanwhile, Apple’s technical assistance and account service representatives in China said they have not received any official notice from the company that the services had been blocked or shut down. But they offered to arrange refunds on purchased content, the report added.

On September 30 last year, Apple launched its music service as well as iTunes Movies and iBooks in China.

The company introduced Apple Pay in China in February.

The iTunes Movie service allows fans to rent or purchase movies while on iBook a variety of free and paid books are also made available.