Law Firm Investigates MS Over Xbox Live Bans
Law Firm Investigates MS Over Xbox Live Bans
By Kevin Parrish, published on November 20, 2009
" A law firm is conducting a class action investigation against Microsoft in regards to the recent Xbox Live bans.
The AbingtonIP law firm is conducting a class action investigation into Microsoft and the recent banning of over 600,000 Xbox Live subscribers. The investigation is surprising considering that the banned accounts were linked to modified consoles. However, the law firm suspects foul play in regards to Microsoft's business practices, and is calling on the banned gamers--or whoever else the firm can dig up--that can testify against the software giant.
The firm's online query form, which can be accessed here, explains its reasoning behind the investigation. "Although modification of Xbox consoles is *arguably* against the terms of use for Xbox/Xbox Live, Microsoft "conveniently" timed the Xbox console ban to coincide with the release of the new Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 game and less than two months after the release of the very popular Halo 3: ODST game," the law firm said.
The firm goes on to prove its case, reporting that Microsoft obtained information from the console owners without permission, and that the company disabled or altered Xbox functionality that was not related to Xbox Live or piracy (the hard drive, Netflix, music, etc). As a result, Microsoft's indiscriminate weapon to combat piracy caused quite a bit of "collateral damage."
"Many people were affected who had nothing to do with piracy," the firm states. "Furthermore, Xbox console functions that have nothing to do with piracy were also affected or disabled. Details aside, Microsoft's bans could (and should) have been more measured." "
:source: Source: http://www.tomsguide.com/us/Xbox-Liv...news-5164.html
