Consumer Rights
Ongoing coverage on Consumer Rights.
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Latest PS5 Lawsuit Claims Sony Could 'Double Dip' on Trump's Tariffs
A new lawsuit filed against Sony claims the company could profit twice from US tariffs on imported goods. The suit argues that Sony increased PlayStation 5 prices due to tariffs and could also receive refunds from the government, potentially leading to a 'double dip' of funds. A similar lawsuit has also been filed against Nintendo.
Morning Legal Briefs
Amazon is facing a class action lawsuit from customers seeking refunds for 'unlawful' tariffs. The lawsuit alleges that the company failed to provide appropriate refunds to affected consumers.
As the Stop Killing Games initiative advances, blocky racing game Lego 2K Drive is being delisted tomorrow
Lego 2K Drive will be delisted from digital storefronts on May 19th, making it unavailable for purchase. While the game will remain playable offline after its servers shut down on May 31st, 2027, this move highlights the ongoing "Stop Killing Games" initiative advocating for game preservation.
California Protect Our Games Act backed by Stop Killing Games passes key hurdle
The California Protect Our Games Act, backed by Stop Killing Games, has passed a key hurdle in the California State Assembly Appropriations Committee. The bill aims to amend laws to prevent developers from completely removing access to digital games, requiring notice for server shutdowns and options for continued play or refunds. The Entertainment Software Association has lobbied against the bill, which now moves forward to the assembly floor.
California bill pushing to keep games playable after server shutdowns passes key hurdle, paving way for full assembly vote
A California bill, AB 1921, aimed at game preservation has passed a key hurdle in the state's Committee on Appropriations. The bill requires studios to either maintain online game functionality or offer refunds, and faces opposition from the Entertainment Software Association. It now moves to a full assembly vote, with the governor having the final say if it passes the legislature.
Game industry lobby group that argued against preservation efforts from libraries is now pushing back on Stop Killing Games, saying it could prevent 'new games, features, and technology'
The game industry lobby group ESA is pushing back against the 'Stop Killing Games' initiative, arguing that preservation efforts could hinder the development of new games and technologies. This follows similar arguments made by Video Games Europe, which warned of increased development costs and potential exposure to unsafe community content. The ESA has a history of lobbying against game preservation efforts, including past arguments against DMCA allowances for libraries.
"It is frustrating to see policymakers suddenly claim everything is 'for our safety'" - Stop Killing Games joins pushback against age verification laws
Stop Killing Games is joining the pushback against new age verification laws, arguing they are complex to implement and could harm game preservation efforts. Founder Ross Scott stated that these laws could make distributions of Linux illegal in California and have already led to the shutdown of the game Urban Dead. The organization believes these laws do not address the root causes of online harm and disproportionately affect community projects.
PS Store Users in US Getting Free Credit, Check If You Qualify
Sony has settled a class action lawsuit in the U.S. regarding "supracompetitive" digital game prices on the PlayStation Store, potentially offering free store credit to eligible users. The settlement, worth $7.85 million, addresses accusations of price hikes after the cessation of third-party voucher sales. Users who purchased games between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, and met specific criteria regarding voucher sales and price increases may qualify for automatic store credit.
Sony Addresses PS Store Games License Issue Amid Backlash
Sony has confirmed a mandatory one-time online license check for all games purchased from the PlayStation Store, impacting titles on both PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. This change, implemented without prior announcement, has caused significant backlash among consumers concerned about future access to their digital libraries. Sony stated that after the initial check, no further online verification will be required for purchased content.
Microsoft Responds To Xbox Backwards Compatibility Issues After Fans Complain For Weeks
Microsoft is investigating reports of issues with backwards-compatible Xbox 360 games on Xbox Series X|S, where players are encountering 'Can't Connect to Xbox Live' errors. Xbox executive Jason Ronald has asked affected users to contact him directly to help resolve this rare problem. Some players have threatened to report the issue as a breach of consumer rights if not addressed.
Sony’s new PlayStation DRM requirements have the UK’s Green Party against them
Sony has implemented a new Digital Rights Management (DRM) policy requiring PlayStation consoles to log in every 30 days to maintain game licenses for titles purchased after March 2026. This move has drawn criticism from consumer rights advocates and the UK's Green Party, drawing comparisons to a similar controversial DRM policy by Xbox in 2013.
'Please be fake' — PlayStation fans panic as Sony seemingly introduces ridiculous new '30-day license check' on digital games
Sony is facing backlash from PlayStation fans over a rumored new '30-day license check' for digital games on PS5 and PS4. This feature, reportedly implemented after a March system update, requires consoles to connect to the internet at least once every 30 days to maintain access to purchased digital titles. While initially speculated to be a bug, user reports and PlayStation support interactions suggest the DRM measure is intentional, drawing comparisons to Microsoft's controversial Xbox One DRM policies from 2013.
Steam Regional Key Confusion Leaves Turkish Gamers Searching For Answers | HappyGamer
Confusion surrounding Steam's regional key system continues to frustrate gamers, particularly in Turkey, where inconsistent policies make it difficult to determine key compatibility. Publishers' differing pricing strategies in various markets are the root cause, leading to ambiguity for consumers and third-party sellers alike. While some digital storefronts are improving transparency, Steam's platform still lags in providing clear, upfront information about regional restrictions.
Nintendo Sued Over Tariff Refunds: Gamers Want Their Money
Nintendo is facing a lawsuit from US players who claim the company should refund customers for price increases implemented due to tariffs. Players argue that since tariffs have been reduced or eliminated, Nintendo should pass the resulting savings back to consumers instead of pocketing the extra profit. The lawsuit seeks to establish a precedent that companies cannot use temporary external factors to justify permanent price hikes.
Nintendo is being sued by customers seeking tariff refunds
Nintendo of America is facing a proposed class action lawsuit filed by two customers who allege the company benefited from unlawful U.S. government tariffs. The plaintiffs claim Nintendo passed tariff costs onto consumers through price hikes and is now seeking refunds from the government for those same tariffs, potentially allowing them to collect the amount twice.
Gamers file class action lawsuit against Nintendo over U.S. tariff refunds
A class action lawsuit has been filed against Nintendo by consumers who claim the company unjustly benefited from tariff refunds. The lawsuit alleges that Nintendo increased prices due to tariffs and is now seeking to recover those same payments twice, once from consumers and again from the government. This action follows Nintendo's own lawsuit against the U.S. government regarding the tariffs.
Stop Killing Games Movement Hits European Parliament – And This Time, It’s Serious | Invision Game Community
The Stop Killing Games movement has brought the issue of digital ownership and game preservation to the European Parliament. The movement, led by Ross Scott, argues that when publishers shut down servers for games that require them to function, players effectively lose access to products they have purchased. A key example cited is Ubisoft's decision to make The Crew unplayable after server shutdown, highlighting a lack of clear regulation and a potential legal grey area that benefits publishers.
Stop Killing Games delivers 'absolutely incredible' hearing in European Parliament: 'There was no [parliament member] that wasn't responding positively'
Stop Killing Games founder Ross Scott and organizer Moritz Katzner presented their case for game preservation to the European Parliament, receiving positive responses from various political groups. The initiative aims to establish requirements to prevent server-dependent games from being shut down when they are no longer profitable, with the organization also launching NGOs in the EU and US for long-term counter-lobbying.
'A real concern for millions and probably hundreds of millions of European citizens' - Stop Killing Games has its day in European Parliament and it seems to go very well
The initiative Stop Killing Games presented its case for regulation in the European Parliament to address the issue of video games becoming unplayable after sale due to discontinued services. The hearing, which garnered over 1 million European citizen signatures, highlighted concerns about consumer rights and the permanent disabling of sold games, with officials pledging to investigate copyright regulations and potential solutions. Founder Ross Scott emphasized that this practice, exemplified by games like The Crew, results in consumers losing access to products they have paid for without adequate recourse.
EU Parliament Takes Aim at Game-Killing Publishers This Week
The European Parliament is holding a public hearing on the 'Stop Destroying Videogames' initiative to address concerns about publishers shutting down servers for games that players have purchased. The initiative aims to establish clearer digital ownership rights and explore options for community-run servers after official ones are decommissioned. This move signifies a growing regulatory focus on consumer rights within the gaming industry, with potential implications for how games are sold and maintained.
