Microsoft hit with cash-for-Points lawsuit
Lawyer cries fraud over Xbox Live download payments
Microsoft is facing a class-action lawsuit over the way it charges for digital content served up by Xbox Live.
Samuel Lassoff, a lawyer from Horsham, Philadelphia, last week filed a complaint against the software giant. He told the US District Court for Eastern Pennsylvania that Microsoft breached its contract with users such as himself by "collecting revenues for digital goods and services which were not provided".
He alleged the company "engaged in a scheme to unjustly enrich itself", behaviour he said was "fraudulent".
Lassoff's beef centres on the use of Microsoft Points - tokens purchased with real money and then spent on games, movies and so on at the Xbox Live Marketplace.
Microsoft Points are sold in fixed amounts which are typically more than an individual might require to buy just one or two downloads. That leaves them with a stack of Points left over that they may not need and, crucially, can't recover.
Earlier this month, Microsoft said it will state cash values alongside downloads' Points prices - a move it may roll out in the UK. The company has even mooted abolishing Microsoft Points altogether. ®
COMMENTS
money...
i like the way the PS3 store works... if you want to buy a game/movie/etc you look at the price which is displayed in local currency and you pay that amount...
tricky concept, eh??!!
Hahahahaha
Another reason the PS3 network gaming is so much better because it is free!
Nintendo?
Im pretty sure nintendo with the Wii points is a similar thing. as with most people i didnt read the licence agreaments :D so they may have coverd themselfs. if not cant i have my change plix?
The PS3 has free DLC?
Wow, I didn't know that Sony offered all DLC for free on the PS3! WOW!
