Norway: Sony's PS3 OS support pull violates marketing laws
updated 05:30 pm EST, Thu January 27, 2011
Claims some ‘updates’ are actually downgrades
The Norway Consumer Council has reportedly received numerous complaints from Playstation 3 owners unhappy with Sony’s removal of the “other OS” function in the 3.21 firmware update. As a result the Consumer Council has taken the complaints to Norway’s Consumer Ombudsman claiming that Sony has breached Norway’s Marketing Control Act. The claim argues that Sony removed a key product feature after sale. The issue only affects pre-Playstation 3 Slim models – the PS3 Slim shipped without the feature.
Sony argues that it has a ‘universal right’ to change or withdraw functions from their console. However, the Consumer Council told Ars Technica that it is of the view that there must be a limit as to what constitutes reasonable modifications to products after their sale. It also argues that the terms ‘update’ and ‘upgrade’ implies feature enhancements, not redactions.
It is believed that Sony pulled the “other OS” function because, in allowing users to install Linux on their PS3, users had level of access to the system that could allow for unauthorized hacking and piracy.
