Microsoft Sued for Locking Out Third Party Memory Cards

[rainman2203]

This sounds like something Mac would do, though I can't say I'm surprised Microsoft would as well.

 

[hebdomad]

Well unfortunately I think Microsoft's undead lawyers will win this one. It is their platform after all.

However I think Microsoft should allow for ( More ) third party accessory's. The lack of competition means lack of innovation for their own platform.

Edit: Ok I copped a little flack over this post. Yes there are third party accessory I knew that. Please note my edit. My main point still remains valid.

 

[squid5580]

Okay so before I start I must explain. I personally hate this shit. I do think MS are just being assholes for locking out memory cards and 3rd party harddrives too.
However. The 360 is their property right? So if they want to lock out shit that others are making for their product should they not legally be able to?
Is Datel paying them a percentage for sales of their items which is clearly designed for MS's product?
Basically what I am saying is that datel is making money only because of the 360. Why should they be able to get away with that without at least having to pay something to MS?

Exactly what I was thinking. Is there some sort of contract between Datel and MS or can anyone just make a memory card for the 360 and sell it? Is this any different than me taking a PC harddrive and building my own 360 HDD other than the fact I am not mass reproducing them. Was this just a mistake on MS's part when they did the sweep? Datel became an accidental casualty? Need more information.

 

[Wofiel]

However I think Microsoft should allow for third party accessory's.

They do; there's the controllers, battery pack kits, media remotes, steering wheels, arcade sticks, hard drives, faceplates and more.

Less jumping to conclusions people.

 

[teh_gunslinger]

GUYS. This was allowing easy savegame exploits by using a normal memory card which is easily usable by a computer. Granted it's still possible with Microsoft's hardware, just exceedingly more difficult and you're voiding a warranty or two.

If they just functioned like normal memory cards, I assume Microsoft wouldn't have bothered with it at all and let them go about their merry way.

Just please, think before you jump on the "Z0mG M$ IS BAD GUIZ" bandwagon.

Yes, but if people want to mess with there own save games I can't see that as a problem. I recently realised that my character in Baldur's Gate had been rolled wrong due to my own stupidity so I took an editor and changed him from one school to another. Hardly a huge issue.
Now it may be that people cheat in their games on 360 but I still can't see the problem. If I wanna cheat I cheat. It's my game after all and my enjoyment. (It should be added that I don't cheat).

The only reason this could be a problem is if it allows people to cheat on XBL. Is that possible? And surely there are server admins that ban cheaters. Oh wait...

 

[CheeseSandwichCake]

DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS DEVELOPERS!

Microsoft is the biggest asshole in the console market at the moment.

 

[scotth266]

I'm of two minds here. The first is that monopolies are bad (DUR), but the second is that the code might not have been made strictly for anti-competition purposes: but rather, for some anti-piracy reason.

More info is needed as to the reasons behind the inclusion of the code before I can make any judgments on the matter.

 

[lacktheknack]

Man, is this Lawsuit November or something? Can't people learn to solve their differences the proper way?

Like, a street fight?

With knives?

That Fires Lasers?

And irradiated baseball bats?

 

[Wofiel]

Yes, but if people want to mess with there own save games I can't see that as a problem. I recently realised that my character in Baldur's Gate had been rolled wrong due to my own stupidity so I took an editor and changed him from one school to another. Hardly a huge issue.
Now it may be that people cheat in their games on 360 but I still can't see the problem. If I wanna cheat I cheat. It's my game after all and my enjoyment. (It should be added that I don't cheat).

Well now with the advent of online play, something not found in your Baldur's Gate example, your savegames are now subject to Xbox Live's Terms of Use, whether on not it actually uses online play.

You may not:

- use or distribute unauthorized cheats, macros, or scripts; or
- exploit a bug, or make an unauthorized modification, to any software or data to gain unfair advantage in a game , contest, or promotion.

 

[AvsJoe]

Well, I'm rooting for Datel on this one. It's not that I'm anti-Microsoft or anything, it's just that I dislike when a company decides to screw their customers to get a couple of extra bucks and I enjoy watching them get their comeuppance.

 

[Jerich0]

Man, is this Lawsuit November or something? Can't people learn to solve their differences the proper way?

Like, a street fight?

With knives?

with a BIGGER knife!

 

[Aura Guardian]

I'm of two minds here. The first is that monopolies are bad (DUR), but the second is that the code might not have been made strictly for anti-competition purposes: but rather, for some anti-piracy reason.

More info is needed as to the reasons behind the inclusion of the code before I can make any judgments on the matter.

Now if Nintendo did it right, then no more homebrew hackers spoiling my Online gaming.

I'm on Microsoft side.

 

[Pimppeter2]

Okay so before I start I must explain. I personally hate this shit. I do think MS are just being assholes for locking out memory cards and 3rd party harddrives too.
However. The 360 is their property right? So if they want to lock out shit that others are making for their product should they not legally be able to?
Is Datel paying them a percentage for sales of their items which is clearly designed for MS's product?
Basically what I am saying is that datel is making money only because of the 360. Why should they be able to get away with that without at least having to pay something to MS?

QFT

Either way, this will just be settled and will hardly be a blow to microsoft at all.

 

[CheeseFlareUK]

Microsoft Sued for Locking Out Third Party Memory Cards

Microsoft accused of being anti-competitive, that's unpossible!

During the last Xbox 360 Dashboard update on November 17, Microsoft introduced code which disallowed third party memory card units [http://www.majornelson.com/archive/2009/10/16/unauthorized-xbox-360-storage-devices.aspx] to function in their consoles, such as those sold by Datel. Today, Datel announced that it is suing Microsoft for unlawfully reducing competition in the memory card market.

In a press release [http://www.hrice.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=content.contentDetail&ID=9032&tID=224] from the firm Howard, Rice, Nemerovski, Canady, Falk & Rabkin, Datel's attorney Marty Glick stated:

Microsoft has taken steps to render inoperable the competing Datel memory card for no visible purpose other than to have that market entirely to themselves. They accomplished their recent update by making a system change that will not recognize or allow operation of a memory card with greater capacity than their own. We believe that with the power Microsoft enjoys in the market for Xbox accessories this conduct is unlawful.

It is now up to a federal court in San Francisco to determine whether Microsoft was indeed engaging in anti-competitive practices.

Datel memory cards had capacities up to 4 gb, whereas the biggest Microsoft cards are stalled at 512mb. Datel says that this lawsuit is in the best interests of the consumer, and I have to agree. More choice is generally good, especially if you don't provide a product that your competitor does.

Source: via Joystiq [http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/datel-suing-microsoft-over-max-memory-card-lockout/]

Permalink

JESUS. Christ, this is a horrid story. WHY DATEL WHY

 

[BenzSmoke]

Why would Microsoft do this? Do they really need the extra money from memory card sales?

 

[lazy_bum]

They've done what? i keep pretty much my entire profile data on 4gb cards due to the fact that i dont currently have my own 360 and often go round mate places to play

 

[scnj]

I don't see how it's unlawful. It's their hardware and they can do what they want with it really.

 

[SomeUnregPunk]

so I'm guessing that all the commentors here are too young to remember when United States v. Microsoft, antitrust case [http://www.justice.gov/atr/cases/ms_index.htm]

It ended with Microsoft being forced to stop making their operating systems that made it difficult for the competition to get in the market. Like making it difficult for users to use competition programs on their OS.

I'd bet Datel will win this one.

 

[Shapsters]

Man, is this Lawsuit November or something? Can't people learn to solve their differences the proper way?

Like, a street fight?

Monkeys or no deal!

I'm not one of those people who always hates on Microsoft, but come on! This is so scummy, so low down, and such a dirty move on their part. Banning third party memory cards because they are bigger and better? Beyond scummy.

 

[Azmael Silverlance]

Well technically its their product they can change the console`s specifications as much as they want. . .. But yes viewing this as a ban of better product. . . and not just a lil bit but seriously over-powered card then it is a weird move :O
But honestly ppl just cant deal with their competition. Im sure the ppl who are suing McSoft now would if the oppurtunity arises do the same for some product of their own. Nobody likes competition in any sphere of bussiness. I mean i may be selling lemonade in the park and if i see another dude selling i wont be happy. And if he has better lemonade then i think we might even refer to the Street Fighting that was mentioned above