A class action lawsuit has been
filed against Sony over the removal of the PlayStation 3's 'Other OS'
feature which allowed users to install and use a Linux operating system
on the console. Sony removed the feature via a firmware update at the
start of April, citing 'security concerns'.
In the suit filed on April 27,
Anthony Ventura refers to 'intentional disablement of the valuable
functionality originally advertised as available' on the PlayStation 3
and says that the company has deceived 'millions of unsuspecting
customers.' The lawsuit also complains that the removal of
the feature was not for security as stated by Sony, but for preventing
piracy. This class action lawsuit is brought on behalf of a nationwide
class of all persons who purchased a PS3 during the period of November
17, 2006 to March 27, 2010 and who did not resell their PS3 before
March 27, 2010. The suit seeks, among other things, compensatory
damages, and injunction relief. No specific sum was listed, however the
suit says "the amount in controversy is in excess of $5 million."
