And here I thought this was all over. Silly me.
A class-action lawsuit has been filed in the state of California seeking damages from Sony as a result of the console manufacturer's discontinuation of OtherOS support on PlayStation 3 consoles. As you may recall, the functionality which allowed users to install an operating system (i.e. Linux) that differed from the PS3's standard fare was disabled via a firmware update on April 1st.
The plaintiff in the suit, Anthony Ventura, claims that, "Sony's decision to force users to disable the OtherOS function was based on its own interest and was made at the expense of its customers." I'm not an attorney or a judge, but I would say that's probably the case. What I can't begin to guess at is whether the loss of OtherOS will be considered by a court to be a significant damage to consumers.
The odds of this suit getting a judgment in favor of the plaintiff seem low to me but, again, I'm not an attorney. I just get the impression that Sony's going to be able to demonstrate the impact that this has on the average user in such a way that they'll get out of any such damages.
PlayStation 3 Owner Files Class Action Suit Against Sony For Dropping 'Other OS' [Kotaku]
Conrad Zimmerman is Destructoid's News Editor and home to the busiest mustache in the gaming press. An amateur historian and pop culture fanatic, Conrad possesses a nearly limitless wealth of videogame factoids and a passion for the power of games to teach, inspire and entertain. He enjoys reading, writing and turning things which should be fun into work.
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Contest:
3:00 AM on 04.29.2010 | 
Sony offers a console that you pay for.
Sony offers you to install a different OS, free of charge.
Sony disables the option to install a different OS.
You're being stripped off an alternative to the normal OS but that doesn't mean you lost any money whatsoever.
So as much as I want to try OtherOS on my PS3, it can't be helped. You weren't ripped off or nothing, so they probably won't get through with the charges.
How many of you have 7.1 sound systems? I guess, very few. Most of you would have stero or 5.1 sets.. If sony, for some reason, removed 7.1 support, would this be OK, as only a few used it anyway? Plus, they still can get 5.1 sound from their 7.1 sets anyway.. So such a move by Sony would suck even though the console still provided sound. OtherOS is gone and gone for good.
I've given Sony enough money and had shitty treatment because of being EU for long enough. We deserve some Free shit.
So are you blaming Destructoid as well for reporting about these news?
Also, I've been meaning to ask you, but you wouldn't be related to "x1251" would you?
On more and more blogs (engadget is the worst for this) I'm seeing posts by people saying one of these three points:
"Well I never used it so wah-wah to anyone else" or
"Only 2% of PS3 owners used it so what" or
"Well if you want it so badly don't update"
Well the problem is I purposefully got an original PS3 so I could have linux on it. Now I'm like NoMoneyLeftBoy with room on my PS3 I can't use unless I mess around backing everything up first. Don't get me wrong, I'm not developer or coder but I did enjoy using the linux install as an alternative.
The point is Sony offered it, (some) users took advantage of the feature and now Sony have taken it away. I paid for this and my alternative to having the 'otherOS' is not going online. For me this is not a viable option - I bought the system legitimately, I pay for my games legitimately and it feels slowly but surely I'm having the features I sought after and paid for being taken away.
Yes I am in the minority for using it, but so what? I paid for it!!! I get riled by the general consensus on forums that unless it's something to do with DLC being on the disc already or exclusivity rights being off the wall users don't back each other up. I wasn't looking for a Cray supercomputer in my bedroom, but it was the first time I thought "Hey wow, Sony aren't so bad after all, this is something I can play with and it really feels like they've given something back to the fans." - Now it's gone. As Emrah said with his analogy, if it was something that affected the majority of users there would be a far greater kick-off than what there is now.
Fair play to those looking to take a class-action suit back to Sony. If I had the guts, money and insanity to try and take them on I would too. While I was at it, I'd ask why my PS3 freezes pretty much every time I use the Iplayer too!
@MisterFox : That logic is ridiculous.
I didn't say personally, just including Dtoid as well. But why do you think that these lawsuits against Sony is idiotic?
I'll take your...interesting picture as a no then.
I bought an original over the slim because it offered a card reader and the option to install an alternate OS. Funnily enough I got the original for such a good price because the person I bought it off simply wanted the newer slim (simply because it was a bit smaller). Literally no other reason for purchase on his part. To be fair I didn't buy a PS3 for the other os reason _alone_ but it was a deciding factor.
I didn't realise that I needed to be told what I actually bought it for. I better put my bib on then because I seem to be dribbling uncontrollably with being a retard lol
I own all three current gen consoles and I like all three for different reasons. It's just a shame that one of the reasons why I enjoyed the PS3 so much compared to the other 2 has now gone. Yes it was an added bonus, but never at any point did they say they were going to take it away, otherwise I may have got the slim and be done with it.
Lucky for you, then, that Sony decided to take away something you don't care about.
Imagine if Sony took away free online, and made you pay for PSN by subscription, like Live.
If Sony took this Other OS feature away, what's to say free PSN won't be next? After all, they'll have set a precedent.
I'd like to attach to this class, so I'd appreciate if Destructoid would please provide the law firm / contact info if you have it.
As it now stands I've got a 5 GB dead zone partition on my hard drive that is useless without doing a full system wipe.
@1251 - shush.
I'm with the plaintiff on this one.
And no, I'm not trolling. I'm just not too knowledged on the subject.
For me personally it wasn't the most amazing thing, but I'm a tinkerer - I like messing around with things when it appeals to me. Yes I own a car but sometimes go-karts are fun too?
It was good to be able to not move from my seat and switch over to linux. I could control my PC (at work) remotely if I wanted to, I could share files with my other PC's, keep backups of files, browse the net (with full functionality compared with the in-built ((but still good)) browser), scummvm emulators and so on...
Pinhead made a comment that summed it up perfectly for me. It's upsetting that people are getting borderline hostile (you're not included in this MisterFox just to clarify!!) because it doesn't affect them. I genuinely would be gutted if they did started to charge for the PSN, but I think the backlash would make this look very meek compared.
I was like most at first glance, I didn't use the other OS and it doesn't affect me having it gone, I never used or cared about it and instant reaction felt like a scam lawsuit to make some bucks.
But reading all your points...you're right. There's a case here and more power to them. And a thank you (sincerely, not sarcasm) for taking the time to type all your views out. Every so often there are people like me who ARE reading them and taking it in.
Well, it seems it has even more advantages than I thought. And I'm like you, in a way - if there is an alternative, I really wanna give it a try. That's why most of the things I use (PC, PSP, PS3 etc.) are using a different theme than the default one, for example. Although, hypocritically enough, I still think customization isn't necessary at all.
And the possibility that PSN might not be free forever after the OtherOS-incident makes sense to me too now. It worries me alright.
I still feel that you should buy a game-console first and foremost for the purpose of playing (as it was once put into a corny line: "Play the games, not the system") but with all things considered now, I think I'm seeing things in a different light.
With that though, *this* should be considered in the lawsuit. The picture as a whole. Not just the OtherOS-problem.
Anyway, thanks for enlightening me, stomm.
@Stomn
I'm pretty sure those survey sony put out show they gonna charge for those premium features for PSN
It's perfectly possible that they can be issued an injunction and be forced to re-enable the feature or compensate users.
Thanks for the kind thoughts, it's actually inspired me to write my first blog post lol
@tenz
To be honest I'm in the dark as to what Sony class as premium services, I'll have to google that one.
Sony: Yes, we're submitting two articles as evidence: A) our EULA and B) Terms of Service agreements which are both conditions upon which we offer PSN service. The Plaintiffs all agreed to be bound by this agreement as a condition of the services we provide. However, we made it clear that the Plaintiff had an option to remove the feature and continue to use our service, or opt not to remove the feature but lose their access to PSN and future (free) updates. Furthermore, we believe that the Plaintiff's case is without merit, we move to dismiss.
Court: Case dismissed.
Being denied access to the PSN service it one thing, but once you stop updating you are also unable to play games released post-update.
oh no! no updates. maybe you should sue the developers making theses games and releasing them untested and full of bugs. i remember getting games in other generations that worked that never needed updates. i think this requires a class action law suit. companies providing unfinished and untested products to consumers.
i should be able to play my console games off line with out having to constantly update my games to make them work. they should work out of the box.
bitch bitch bitch. is linux on a ps3 really worth it? wouldnt it be easier or better to just dual boot a pc with linux?
You can install game updates without installing the system update.
i was just saying if you unplug the network cable, you dont have to worry about updates.and can still play games with your ps3 that has linux on it.
but i dont know if the ps3 is like the psp where some games require the newest firmware updates? havnt seen this yet.
GeoHot: ""Sony may have difficulty patching the exploit"
People who enjoy OtherOS: "Thanks douchbag."
I'm still confused why anyone would take Sony's side regarding this clearly anti-consumer move. Then again, I guess some people will defend a company no matter how evil their practices are (see: Apple).
But if you don't accept the system update then you can't take your games online, or download anything from PSN.
Sure, you have a PS3 with Linux on it still, but you're still losing features, you're just having different features taken away. Not exactly ideal.
GeoHot is currently working on custom firmware that will allow you to upgrade your PS3 while retaining OtherOS functionality. You should be thanking that charming young lad.
2006 --- > Jan 21, 2010, PS3 remains unhackable
Jan 22, 2010, George Hotz announces he has hacked the PS3 by way of OtherOS/Linux feature
Jan 26, 2010, GeoHot releases hack to the public
Mar 28, 2010, Sony removes OtherOS/Linux feature
How can this confuse you?
I'm asking this because I really have no knowledge on the subject – how is OtherOS supporting piracy? Does it make the system more vulnerable? Or is it too complex to fit in one comment? That would be okay, too. In that case, never mind, I'll research it myself.
I'll thank him when it ultimately comes to the point where the only way to turn on your PS3 is through a fingerprint scanner linked to a SONY database of known "good and legitimate consumers".
From what I understand (maybe others can give a more in depth answer), sony's OS is pretty solid, but by using linux a hacker can find a back door in and hack the system. This is what GeoHot claims to have done. The short answer is yes, it makes the system more vulnerable.