PS3 Owner Sues Sony For OtherOS Removal
Class action lawsuit touting $5m worth of damage.
A PlayStation 3 owner in California is suing Sony for the removal of the 'OtherOS' feature that came with recent firmware update 3.21. Anthony Ventura alleges that "Sony's decision to force users to disable the Other OS function was based on its own interest and was made at the expense of its customer."
Filed in a North District of California court, the lawsuit said the changes "reflected Sony's concerns that the Other OS feature might be used by 'hackers' to copy and/or steal gaming and other content," and that in removing the feature was not serving the customer sufficiently.
It's a class-action suit too, on behalf of "a nationwide class of all persons who purchased a PS3 during the period November 17, 2006 and March 27, 2010 and who did not resell their PS3." The legal papers argue that the OtherOS option was an "extremely valuable" feature.
Sony removed the functionality - which allows users to partition their PS3 hard drive to install operating systems such as Linux - due to "security concerns" that arose when iPhone hacker George Hotz discovered an exploit on the console.
Ventura is seeking "damages for Plaintiff and each class member, including but not limited to compensatory damages; restitution; injuctive relief; attorneys' fees; and the cost of this suit." Total sum of the damage? $5 million.
Source: Kotaku
Filed in a North District of California court, the lawsuit said the changes "reflected Sony's concerns that the Other OS feature might be used by 'hackers' to copy and/or steal gaming and other content," and that in removing the feature was not serving the customer sufficiently.
It's a class-action suit too, on behalf of "a nationwide class of all persons who purchased a PS3 during the period November 17, 2006 and March 27, 2010 and who did not resell their PS3." The legal papers argue that the OtherOS option was an "extremely valuable" feature.
Sony removed the functionality - which allows users to partition their PS3 hard drive to install operating systems such as Linux - due to "security concerns" that arose when iPhone hacker George Hotz discovered an exploit on the console.
Ventura is seeking "damages for Plaintiff and each class member, including but not limited to compensatory damages; restitution; injuctive relief; attorneys' fees; and the cost of this suit." Total sum of the damage? $5 million.
Source: Kotaku
Companies:
Sony
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Comments
Ryan 29 Apr 2010 10:28
1/5
REEHEEEHEEEEHEEEEEEAAAALYYY?
ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLRIGHTY THEN
could not resist, on a side note - the ps3 box for these users do still have the feature described in the manuals don't they? (i'm not sure, cba digging it out); but if so, more power to them. I personally don't miss it as I never took advantage of it but I know that some ps3 users took full advantage of the PS3 in this way.
ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLRIGHTY THEN
could not resist, on a side note - the ps3 box for these users do still have the feature described in the manuals don't they? (i'm not sure, cba digging it out); but if so, more power to them. I personally don't miss it as I never took advantage of it but I know that some ps3 users took full advantage of the PS3 in this way.
DrkStr 29 Apr 2010 13:04
2/5
"a nationwide class of all persons who purchased a PS3 during the period November 17, 2006 and March 27, 2010 and who did not resell their PS3 and actuall installed and regularly used the Other OS feature and PSN."
Fixed that for you - now all 10 of them can claim their part of the $5M.
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Daz 29 Apr 2010 15:27
3/5
Ryan wrote:
REEHEEEHEEEEHEEEEEEAAAALYYY?
ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLRIGHTY THEN
could not resist, on a side note - the ps3 box for these users do still have the feature described in the manuals don't they? (i'm not sure, cba digging it out); but if so, more power to them. I personally don't miss it as I never took advantage of it but I know that some ps3 users took full advantage of the PS3 in this way.
ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLRIGHTY THEN
could not resist, on a side note - the ps3 box for these users do still have the feature described in the manuals don't they? (i'm not sure, cba digging it out); but if so, more power to them. I personally don't miss it as I never took advantage of it but I know that some ps3 users took full advantage of the PS3 in this way.
Just looked in the manual, and "Other OS" is NOT mentioned.
As for the box can't be arsed to go on an Adventure at the moment but I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same.
dude 30 Apr 2010 02:05
4/5
i think those guys suing are greedy people who takes advantages and are self centered people.
oh 30 Apr 2010 12:36
5/5
@Daz nah i didnt look myself, didnt bother diggin it all out but i wud have assumed it was in the maual. it isn't on the box either as i noticed, maybe sony were clever in the advertisment in this feature by no having it on the box or in the manual? so maybe this has been a while coming, a one-to-watch on sony's part in case security of the console in any way compromised. either way, i do think it's unfair for sony to just take this away altogether as opposed to simply upping the security on the console.