Neoseeker : News : Square Enix sued over Final Fantasy XI

Square Enix sued over Final Fantasy XI
Leo Chan - Thursday, June 25th, 2009 | 11:00AM (PT) 0 Like


Publisher accused of false advertising and unfair business practices for MMO operations

Japanese RPG giant Square Enix has been hit with a federal class action suit, filed in San Francisco.  The suit contends that the publisher had "deceived" customers of their MMORPG Final Fantasy XI over "hidden" fees and penalties. 

As a result, Square Enix had allegedly engaged in false advertising and unfair business practices by keeping customers in the dark over the full costs resulting from penalties for things like late payments, including interest, restrictions, and still more fees. 

Some examples of grievances listed in the filing:

  • Licensing of the online game software disguised as a sale;
  • Monthly fees ("fees") to play the online games;
  • Penalties for late payment of the fees;
  • Interest charges for late payment of the fees;
  • Charges while the online game account is suspended;
  • Termination of the right to use the online game for late payment of the fees;
  • User restrictions and conditions related to the online games;
  • Termination of game data for late payment of the fees.

The class action lawsuit is seeking damages amounting to over $5 million USD on behalf of 100,000 plaintiffs.
 

Source: Courthouse News Service

Alternate Source: The Examiner

Sections: Console Games, PC Games

  • 0 thumbs!
    anacreon since Oct 2005 | Jun 25, 09
    wow jacking up the price just because you have a late payment for an mmorpg...

    normally the company just disables the account untill the payment is paid...
  • 0 thumbs!
    | Jun 25, 09
    I think it should've been pretty obvious that it was an MMORPG and that you were going to be paying monthly (as indicated on the packaging). The termination of game data because of late fees is BS though, courts have ruled that despite what the user agreement says, that game data is that user's (ie people can file claims against someone for deleting such data, angry spouse or SquareEnix). Charges while suspended are garbage, the game turns off your service on day 1 of the next month if you haven't payed up. Also I've been a few days late with my payment before and never see any of these fees that they're talking about. If you owe them money, then they have the right to charge interest, but as I understand it, it's pay-to-play. You don't owe them for time that you're not playing, they should hold your data and await your return.
  • 0 thumbs!
    tballa since Apr 2007 | Jun 25, 09
    five million is nothing...
  • 2 thumbs!
    THM since Jan 2008 | Jun 25, 09
    Their litigation would be like a "Chocobo Riding Contest", I suppose.
  • 0 thumbs!
    hollowedsol since Feb 2008 | Jun 25, 09
    Wow termination of data is harsh.
    And according the kraftlos, if he's not being targeted by their supposed wrath, who is?
  • 0 thumbs!
    Nashira since Oct 2002 | Jun 26, 09
    Ummm late payments? I have been playing this game on/off for the last 3 years and whenever I've come to the end of the month and haven't payed, my account just deactivates until I want to play the game again and reactivate.

    This has recently been discussed among the FFXI community and nobody has even experienced any of the problems above. =/
  • 0 thumbs!
    dbzmaster since Nov 2002 | Jun 26, 09
    SE has been sued before, nothing too surprising. Though, this one is less humorous than the law suit here in Illinois. I wanted to cry, Illinois.
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