This is a very simple issue for me.
He paid for a product, with a service. EA have an obligation either to allow him to use that service, or offer him a full refund.
Banning someone from Forums is not the same as banning them from a product they have paid for.
Overall I'm getting rather concerned by the business practices of some of the wealthier companies in the gaming Industry. As much as I believe in the capitalist ideal that everyone has the right to make money, and it is the consumers job to regulate that by not buying into corporations which abuse their position, the games industry does not appear to follow that trend, and people continue to buy products year on year which strengthen the position of companies, who are in turn given no reason to act in an ethical manner.
The only reason any company has for acting in such a way is either for profits, tax-breaks, or to come into line with national laws - the Gaming Industry is not offered any incentives by any of these three to act ethically - their profits remain unharmed despite their treatment of customers. They receive no grants or breaks from governments for any ethical decisions they take regarding their customers, and the law is generally on their side whenever they choose to stomp out something they don't like.
C'est la vie.
He paid for a product, with a service. EA have an obligation either to allow him to use that service, or offer him a full refund.
Banning someone from Forums is not the same as banning them from a product they have paid for.
Overall I'm getting rather concerned by the business practices of some of the wealthier companies in the gaming Industry. As much as I believe in the capitalist ideal that everyone has the right to make money, and it is the consumers job to regulate that by not buying into corporations which abuse their position, the games industry does not appear to follow that trend, and people continue to buy products year on year which strengthen the position of companies, who are in turn given no reason to act in an ethical manner.
The only reason any company has for acting in such a way is either for profits, tax-breaks, or to come into line with national laws - the Gaming Industry is not offered any incentives by any of these three to act ethically - their profits remain unharmed despite their treatment of customers. They receive no grants or breaks from governments for any ethical decisions they take regarding their customers, and the law is generally on their side whenever they choose to stomp out something they don't like.
C'est la vie.