The Playstation3 update includes a clause that blocks users from taking part in class actions against Sony. Touche, Sony, touche... UPDATED
Sony, who recently hired a ex-Homeland Security type to look after its cyber affairs, has further revealed its plans to stop users finding excuses to take part in expensive and embarrasing class action lawsuits - by sneakily making users agree not to do so!
Because, you know, making sure they don't actually have reason to is just too hard.
The Examiner found this rather dastardly clause in the user agreement for the latest PSN update.
ANY DISPUTE RESOLUTION PROCEEDINGS, WHETHER IN ARBITRATION OR COURT, WILL BE CONDUCTED ONLY ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS AND NOT IN A CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION OR AS A NAMED OR UNNAMED MEMBER IN A CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, REPRESENTATIVE OR PRIVATE ATTORNEY GENERAL LEGALACTION, UNLESS BOTH YOU AND THE SONY ENTITY WITH WHICH YOU HAVE A DISPUTE SPECIFICALLY AGREE TO DO SO IN WRITING FOLLOWING INITIATION OF THE ARBITRATION. THIS PROVISION DOES NOT PRECLUDE YOUR PARTICIPATION AS A MEMBER IN A CLASS ACTION FILED ON OR BEFORE AUGUST 20, 2011.
UPDATED: Thanks to commenter DriedFrogPills, we've learned that Kotaku has confirmed that this is not for local users. We still don't like it, but it least it doesn't affect Australians.
Issue: 137 | June, 2012