Sony agrees to pay millions to gamers to settle PS3 Linux debacle

jeremy · 06-21-2016, 04:02 PM

Quote:

After six years of litigation, Sony is now agreeing to pay the price for its 2010 firmware update that removed support for the Linux operating system in the PlayStation 3.

Sony and lawyers representing as many as 10 million console owners reached the deal on Friday. Under the terms of the accord, (PDF) which has not been approved by a California federal judge yet, gamers are eligible to receive $55 if they used Linux on the console. The proposed settlement, which will be vetted by a judge next month, also provides $9 to each console owner that bought a PS3 based on Sony's claims about "Other OS" functionality.

The deal also provides up to $2.25 million in attorneys' fees for the lawyers who brought suit. Under the plan, gamers eligible for a cash payment are "all persons in the United States who purchased a Fat PS3 model in the United States between November 1, 2006, and April 1, 2010." The accord did not say how much it would cost Sony, but the entertainment company is expected to pay out millions.

The troubles began with the PS3 software update 3.21. On March 28, 2010, Sony announced that the update would "disable the 'Install Other OS' feature that was available on the PS3 systems prior to the current slimmer models." This feature, Sony claimed, would be removed "due to security concerns."

To get the $55, a gamer "must attest under oath to their purchase of the product and installation of Linux, provide proof of their purchase or serial number and PlayStation Network Sign-in ID, and submit some proof of their use of the Other OS functionality." To get the $9, PS3 owners must submit a claim that, at the time they bought their console, they "knew about the Other OS, relied upon the Other OS functionality, and intended to use the Other OS functionality."

Ars for More...

Are any LQ members impacted by this?

--jeremy

notKlaatu · 06-21-2016, 04:13 PM

I am, although I doubt I can "provide proof of my use of the Other OS functionality". I did not, unsurprisingly, think to document my use of Yellow Dog on my PS3. I have screenshots, but nothing to prove that the screenshot is a PS3.

Even so, this is some small token toward justice, I guess.

TenTenths · 06-22-2016, 05:45 AM

My first "FAT PS3" was bought because it was a PS3, not because it could run another O/S, that was an unexpected bonus. I did install YDL, like many people, but didn't really do anything with it. I personally thought that the loss of running alternative O/S was no big deal to me.

I'm based in Europe, so have no idea how this settlement will go. I'm sure the "10 million users" is a nice number for the lawyers and if they make $1 off of each "affected user".......

O/T: To me, the PS3 handles things like "media" infinitely better than the PS4. PS4 media capabilities are really a joke.