Two New SecuROM Lawsuits Filed Against Electronic Arts
The SecuROM soap opera continues as GamePolitics.com reports that Electronic Arts was hit with not just one, but two completely new SecuROM related lawsuits.
The new suits bring the total number of those seeking class action status and compensation for SecuROM related damages to three. Considering the number of suits now filed, the question remains if the benefits of using controversial anti-piracy utilities like Sony’s SecuROM, which some argue operate in root-kit like ways, outweigh the potential costs of defending against class action lawsuits, and lost sales from outraged consumers.
The first reported SecuROM lawsuit filed against Electronic Arts was specifically related to The Sims 2’s non-disclosure of its installation. In the complaint, Plaintiff Dianna Cortez states that her PC began suffering from severe technical issues after the installation of the Sims 2 expansion pack Bon Voyage. The suit alleges that Electronic Arts failed to not only detail the specifics related to how SecuROM operates, but also that it is not possible to remove the anti-piracy utility even after an installation of the product.
The two other suits make nearly identical claims, however the products differ. The first of the two new suits, filed on the behalf of Plaintiff Melissa Thomas, alleges that the retail version of Spore fails to fully disclose how SecuROM is installed and functions, and that it cannot be installed. The second suit filed on the behalf of Plaintiff Richard Eldridge makes the same claims about the freeware version of the Spore Creature Creator Free Trial Edition – a product that some may question having any sort of a need for SecuROM protection.
Each suit seeks class action status, claiming that damages in each exceed over five million dollars. Considering the current trend with three separate lawsuits filed for three different products, we could very likely see even more filed in the coming weeks, or months. We have found that other recent products by Electronic Arts also use Sony’s SecuROM for on-disc and authentication based protection such as Dead Space, Mercenaries 2, Red Alert 3, and Crysis : Warhead.
Stay tuned for more updates on this very hot topic.
Related Links :
Eldridge vs EA PDF
Cortez vs EA PDF
Cnet : Spore Lawsuit
Spore Court PDF
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How the hell can re-installing your PC cost $5million ??
Surely if you are claiming "damages" then it should only be equal to the cost that you have incurred, as a consumer. Any other legal costs would be part of the legal action itself.
So either the claims are rediculous, or the article is misrepresenting the facts.
its proportionate to the company. EA would not really care if they were only sued $50 would they?
>> and that it cannot be installed
There's a instances where the word should be 'un'installed and not 'installed'. Makes for confusing readers who are not technically minded.
There's a few instances...
Ironic.
The version on Red Alert 3 does allow you to play without having the DVD in the drive - which is a step in the right direction. Still a mssively over-complicated, anti-social and derided piece of software though. WRU EA games on Steam?
I dont think people would be so bothered if
A. You were told you need it and have to install it.
B. You could uninstall it 100% after use.
C. List of programmes that you cannot run whilst playing the game.
If you dont like the above, please dont buy the game. I for one will not be buying the games. Shame I'd like to play some of them.
It does make a spyware ridden downloaded version more tempting. At least I know that a downloaded version I will require a full format and reinstall after use.