Apple to pay $40 to some older iPad 3G owners

A ruling has been issued in a class action lawsuit filed in 2010 against Apple and AT&T, with Apple agreeing to pay $40 to U.S. customers who bought or ordered an iPad 3G before June 7, 2010. Customers who didn’t sign up with AT&T are eligible for a $20/month discount for up to a year on the carrier’s 5GB monthly plan. The lawsuit stems from AT&T advertising an unlimited data plan for iPads, then eliminating the unlimited data plan. Reportedly, the deal will be finalized in February, when Apple will try to contact eligible customers. Due to anti-class action provisions in the AT&T contract, payouts will be limited; the AT&T discount will be offered to those who no longer own their original iPad and didn’t sign up for any AT&T data plan. [via GigaOM]