2009 Final Fantasy XI Lawsuit Dismissed

December 27, 2011 -

Square Enix announced on Friday that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals in California has dismissed with prejudice a class action lawsuit involving its MMORPG Final Fantasy XI. The ruling came on December 20. The lawsuit was filed by San Francisco's Esther Leong in 2009 on behalf of a class (Final Fantasy XI subscribers), that accused the publisher of "deceptive advertising, unfair business practices, and fraudulent concealment with respect to the online games at the point of purchase." The game was released in North America in 2003.

The plaintiff was seeking over $5 million in damages. Square Enix deputy general counsel Steve Ross called the suit "baseless" at the time. It turns out that a judge agrees with Square Enix.

Source: Gamasutra

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Comments

Re: 2009 Final Fantasy XI Lawsuit Dismissed

Submitted by Neo_DrKefka on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 15:51.

I don't think people understand how Playonline's bill cycle is setup. If you start your service on a normal service you pay for one month. If you start you're service on the 31st last day of the month. The next day you'll get charged too months. Their cycle is every first of the month.

Needless to say thats why this game sucks or one of the many reasons. This game is also the reason why we have taxes on a video game because the Democratic Party here in Illionis assisted by Rod Blagoveich who before he tried to sell a Senate seat Democrats would say anything we said about the crazy stuff he does was Republican lies...hehehe anyways because a politican's son had a hard time canceling the IL Democratic Party whats controls the state investigated this made a law and then went after sales from online games which has become a trend

Re: 2009 Final Fantasy XI Lawsuit Dismissed

Submitted by Grif on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 16:41.

I've been playing FFXI since the US launch, which means Squeenix has received a LOT of my money over the years. Odd thing is, I enjoyed every minute of it. I've played many MMOs including WoW, Aion, Everquest, Ragnarok, and more. FFXI is the one I keep going back to. It's more fun for me.

I'll be the first to admit Playonline's billing is far from perfect, and Squeenix realizes this too, which is why they switched to another billing service earlier in the year.

And outside of actually buying the game disc, I didn't pay a single dime in taxes. Is it not natural to pay taxes on the things you buy? I don't quite understand the logic here. All I'm seeing is a rant on the evils of a democratic party that you don't agree with.

Atlanta Video Games Examiner for examiner.com

Re: 2009 Final Fantasy XI Lawsuit Dismissed

Submitted by Neo_DrKefka on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 15:41.

The highly Liberal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is the most overturned court in U.S History. Just because they ruled on something doesn't mean it will be stick. It typically doesn't

Re: 2009 Final Fantasy XI Lawsuit Dismissed

Submitted by hellfire7885 on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 15:50.

Pardon?

Re: 2009 Final Fantasy XI Lawsuit Dismissed

Submitted by Papa Midnight on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 13:16.

1. Licensing of the online games software disguised as a sale
2. Monthly fees ("fees") to play online games
3. Penalties for late payment fees
4. Interest charges for late payment fees
5. Charges while the online game account is suspended
6. Termination of the right to use the online game for late payment of the fees
7. User restrictions and conditions related to the online games
8. Termination of game data for late payment of the fees

So to clarify that I understand all claims

1) In practically every single EULA on the planet (I don't like it, but that's the way it is).

2) On the box. Probably one of many reasons I didn't buy it.

3) Seems logical

4) That's curious. Never seen that one before myself with regards to online games, then again I don't typicallyy play Pay-2-Play games.

5) Now, even I have to admit, that's screwed up but I doubt it affects an entire class.

6) Logical. You don't pay your electric bill, they cut off the power. You don't pay your car note, they repo it. Why should the game be any different?

7) Terms and conditions practically are tantamount to the status quo. Many more restrictive than others. Again, I don't like it, but it is what it is.

8) See 6, 3, and what is likely within the terms and conditions portion of the licensing agreement.

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Papa Midnight

Re: 2009 Final Fantasy XI Lawsuit Dismissed

Submitted by Hevach on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 13:51.

I've played many MMOs over the years, and none of them had late fees or interest. Some gave you a grace periord if you didn't pay, but most simply cut you off as soon as payment was due if you didn't have a recurring payment set up (or if the recurring payment was declined.

There's a key difference from the power company (or phone, cable, etc) here. You're paying at the start of the month for the MMO service, not at the end of the month for service already provided. Any service you get you already paid for, no payment no service, no service no outstanding balance.

This is closer to a gym membership than the electric company. In my state, gyms can't charge late fees and if they try the consumer can sue to collect. There's never an outstanding balance when you pay at the start of a month, because if payment isn't made there's no service to collect on.

Re: 2009 Final Fantasy XI Lawsuit Dismissed

Submitted by Papa Midnight on Tue, 12/27/2011 - 14:36.

That seems more accurate to the situation. Even I found the interest charged on late payments to be curious behavior.

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Papa Midnight

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Technogeek: If the developer were male there wouldn't have been a "conversation" in the first place.10/19/2014 - 2:27am

Monte: trolls are just at their absolute worst when it comes to women and feminist. You could bet good money that if the developer were male the trolls would be silent and the conversation would actually focus on the journalism.10/18/2014 - 9:18pm

Monte: Papa: Not the first time we've had a journalism scandals before, but the harassment never got close to this level; the difference with this scandal is that feminists are involved. Without the feminist angle, their would be A LOT less harrassment10/18/2014 - 9:15pm

Papa Midnight: Monte: That's honestly rather short-sighted. As has been proven with other persons who have been targeted, if it wasn't Quinn, it would be someone else.10/18/2014 - 6:26pm

Avalongod: I think that's part of what gives an esoteric news story like this real life...it taps into a larger narrative about misogyny in society outside of games.10/18/2014 - 3:29pm

Avalongod: @Monte, well the trolls made death threats that came to police (and media attention). I think this is tapping into a larger issue outside of games about how women are treated in society (like all the "real rape" stuff during the last election)10/18/2014 - 3:28pm

Wonderkarp: Zippy : Havent tried the PS4 controller. might later.10/18/2014 - 2:37pm

Monte: Seirously, If Quinn was not involved and GG was instead about something like the Mordor Marketing contracts, the trolling would have never grown so vile and disgusting. There have been plenty of movements in the past that never sufferred from behavior..10/18/2014 - 1:57pm

Monte: We have seen scandel's before but the trolling has never been as vile as what we see with GG. Trolls usually have such a tiny voice you can barely notice them, but its like moths to a flame whenever femistist are involved.10/18/2014 - 1:53pm

ZippyDSMlee: Wonderkarp: You might be able to if you had a PS4 controller.10/18/2014 - 1:00pm

MaskedPixelante: http://store.steampowered.com/app/327940/ Night Dive starts charging for freeware.10/18/2014 - 12:21pm

Matthew Wilson: the sad thing is there are trolls on both sides of this. people need to stop acting like their side is so pure.10/18/2014 - 12:19pm

MechaTama31: So, only speak out on a scandal that hasn't attracted trolls? I wouldn't hold my breath...10/18/2014 - 10:49am

Monte: I feel like GG just needs to die. The movement is FAR to tainted by hatred and BS for it to be useful for any conversation. Let GG die, and then rally behind the NEXT gaming journalism scandal, and start the conversation fresh.10/18/2014 - 10:33am

quiknkold: and we dont have a Dovakin to call a cease fire10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: The whole thing is Futile. Both sides are so buried deep in their trenchs that there isnt a conversation. Its just Finger Pointing, Name Calling, Doxxing, Threats. there needs to be a serious conversation, and GG isnt it.10/17/2014 - 7:37pm

quiknkold: I thought it was a good article. Jeff is right. I feel like GamerGate did destroy its message. I am for Ethics in game journalism, but man. so much hate. and its on both sides. I've seen some awful stuff spewed on twitter. Its a big reason why I exited..10/17/2014 - 7:34pm

Matthew Wilson: while he focused on gg, he did call out both sides crap.10/17/2014 - 7:18pm

Papa Midnight: That was a damn good read offered by Jeff Gertsmann.10/17/2014 - 7:17pm

Matthew Wilson: http://www.giantbomb.com/articles/letter-from-the-editor-10-17-2014/1100-5049/ deferentially a nice write up.10/17/2014 - 6:44pm

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