Looks like Sony now finds itself on the business end of a class-action lawsuit. You’ll recall that a recent PS3 firmware update removed the “Other OS” option from the console, preventing owners from installing Linux (which was one of the selling points when the PS3 first came out in 2006). The removal upset one California gentleman, who filed suit with the note “Sony’s decision to force users to disable the Other OS function was based on its own interest and was made at the expense of its customers.”
The lawsuit seeks “damages for Plaintiff and each class member, including but not limited to compensatory damages; restitution; injuctive relief; attorneys’ fees; and the cost of this suit.” To put an actual number here, we’re looking at at least $5 million should the class win.
You’re part of the class if you bought a PS3 between the day of its launch and March 27, 2010.
Sony hasn’t said anything about the lawsuit yet. It removed the “Other OS” option to “ensure that PS3 owners will continue to have access to the broad range of gaming and entertainment content from SCE and its content partners on a more secure system.” Sony was basically afraid that people were going to use “Other OS” to crack the PS3 wide open. So far, it’s not possible to play backed-up PS3 games (whereas it’s pretty damn easy to play backed-up Xbox 360 and Nintendo Wii games).