Consumer Law
Ongoing coverage on Consumer Law.
Latest coverage
Nintendo Will Not Refund Tariff Fees It Passed Onto Customers, Saying They “Received Exactly What They Bargained And Paid For”
Nintendo is refusing to refund customers for tariff fees it passed on, arguing that consumers received exactly what they paid for at an agreed-upon price. The company stated that customers were free to choose not to purchase the products or seek alternatives. This stance comes amidst a class action lawsuit filed by consumers seeking refunds for inflated prices on original Switch consoles and accessories.
Nintendo files motion to dismiss consumer lawsuit over tariff refunds
Nintendo has filed a motion to dismiss a class action lawsuit alleging the company failed to pass on tariff refunds to consumers. The company argues that consumers received exactly what they paid for at the agreed-upon price and were free to abstain from purchasing if they disagreed with the advertised cost. Nintendo also noted that it absorbed some tariff costs on popular products like the Nintendo Switch 2.
The California State Assembly passes AB 1921, Stop Killing Games' Protect Our Games Act
The California State Assembly has passed Assembly Bill 1921, the Protect Our Games Act, which aims to improve game preservation. Championed by Assembly Member Chris Ward, the bill requires video game companies to provide advance notice before shutting down server-dependent games and offer options for continued play, such as offline access. The bill now moves to the California State Senate for further consideration.
PlayStation's dynamic pricing experiment, and Sony's lack of transparency about it, reportedly might violate European law
Sony's recent dynamic pricing experiments on the PlayStation Store may violate European Union consumer law due to a lack of transparency. Experts suggest that failing to clearly communicate personalized pricing to users contravenes EU Directive 2011/83/EU. While Microsoft also uses personalized pricing on Xbox, they disclose it, unlike Sony's undisclosed methods which could lead to fines or competition law issues.
Thanks to EU consumer law, Nintendo is updating the Switch 2 design to enable European players to replace the battery
Nintendo is updating the design of its upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 model in Europe to comply with EU consumer laws, specifically the Right to Repair directive and the European Battery Regulation. These regulations will require that batteries in consumer devices, including the Switch 2 and its Joy-Con controllers, be user-replaceable by 2027. The company has also released a system update for both the Switch and Switch 2 that includes stability fixes and a 'Handheld Mode Boost' feature.
