Datel suing Microsoft over Max Memory card lockout

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

  Quote

Datel announced that it has filed an antitrust lawsuit against Microsoft, in response to Microsoft's lockout (via Xbox 360 firmware update) of the company's Max Memory Cards. We doubt this is the "remedy" for the lockout issue to which the company previously referred, but it's certainly one way to address it.

"Microsoft has taken steps to render inoperable the competing Datel memory card for no visible purpose other than to have that market entirely to themselves," Datel attorney Marty Glick explained in a press release. "They accomplished their recent update by making a system change that will not recognize or allow operation of a memory card with greater capacity than their own. We believe that with the power Microsoft enjoys in the market for Xbox accessories this conduct is unlawful."

In the press release, Datel goes on to say that the lawsuit is intended to "restore competition" which, the company suggests, is beneficial to consumers. It's now up to a federal court in San Francisco to determine whether the Max Memory-crippling Xbox update constitutes unlawful anti-competitive behavior on the part of Microsoft.

The last time Datel went to court, it viewed the experience from the other side. Sony filed suit against the peripheral maker over the "Lite Blue Tool," which would have enabled users to run unsigned code on PSP hardware.

Source: http://www.joystiq.com/2009/11/23/datel-su...y-card-lockout/

[Death Proof]

I hope that microsoft gets sued for blood right out of their ass on this one. I wanted to purchase a cheap 120Gb HDD for 65$ ( in india ) , but i must hold on as it may be useless in near future. The effect of this was seen directly on GTA : Gay Tony & Lost & damned , as without a HDD there was texture popping all over the place.

So microsoft very well managed to spoil the look & feel of the legendary GTA for me.

GRRRRRR, death to this Hetro Hating, Major Nelson & all his morons.

[-KJ]

I hate how closed Microsoft is. I mean, I can understand, but Sony got their hardware right as far as security goes and look how 'open' it is.

[The_Decryptor Veteran]

Datel could win this, I remember another case involving car door openers, somebody made a universal one, so one door company built in a lock against the universal ones, remote company sued and won.

I also remember something similar with 3rd party ink cartridges.

Edited November 24, 2009 by The_Decryptor

[SMELTN]

Yeah I think datel is going to win this one and rightfully so.

[AbandonedTrolley]

Yeah there is no reason that Datel should lose this, it is purely Microsoft trying to monopolise the 360 peripheral market. Same as I believe they don't licence out the wireless technology either so companies cannot make controllers etc? (That might have changed now, I know it was the case in the start)

[Deacon Brown]

Im lost here

Why would datel win this battle?

If M$ want you to only use there licences equipment with thier own 360, how can a company come a long and sue because M$ has stopped thier equipment from working on it?

Im not saying its good for M$ to do this but i don't get why they will win a case when its M$ own machine?

[+Audioboxer Subscriber²]

  AbandonedTrolley said:

Yeah there is no reason that Datel should lose this, it is purely Microsoft trying to monopolise the 360 peripheral market. Same as I believe they don't licence out the wireless technology either so companies cannot make controllers etc? (That might have changed now, I know it was the case in the start)

It's still the case, but tbh there's no real reason to want to buy a 3rd party controller over official... not that that makes it any better. I guess it does affect some things negatively though, like the logitech G25/G27, two of the most popular steering wheels, can only be used on the PC/PS3.

It's not the 90s any more, nearly every electrical goods device that supports addons is allowed official and 3rd party now... Can you imagine if Apple didn't allow any 3rd party iPhone/iPod addons? :|

If there's one thing MS did wrong with the 360 this generation in amongst everything they've done right, it's rape people with accessories.

[what]

imo Microsoft can lock out any hardware they want to. It's their platform, and if they don't want people making money out of it, that's up to them. However, it's a stupid move to block these things four years into the 360s life cycle when a lot of customers have already bought one of these and now find its useless. They should get recompensed at least.

[Deacon Brown]

  what said:

imo Microsoft can lock out any hardware they want to. It's their platform, and if they don't want people making money out of it, that's up to them. However, it's a stupid move to block these things four years into the 360s life cycle when a lot of customers have already bought one of these and now find its useless. They should get recompensed at least.

But you are not meant to connect unlicenced equipment to the 360 right?

[what]

  Deacon Brown said:

But you are not meant to connect unlicenced equipment to the 360 right?

Maybe, but it's still a pretty big '**** you' after 4 years.

[Growled Member]

Typical Microsoft behavior.

[BetaAddict]

  what said:

imo Microsoft can lock out any hardware they want to. It's their platform, and if they don't want people making money out of it, that's up to them. However, it's a stupid move to block these things four years into the 360s life cycle when a lot of customers have already bought one of these and now find its useless. They should get recompensed at least.

This really is no different that Apple and the iPod ecosystem. Xbox is a closed platform owned by MS and they are free to control what products are compatible with it. It all comes back down to licensing. If MS is denying Datel a chance to get a license but has offered others a similar license, then this case just might have some water. But as it seems, like most third party accessories, they are not licensed by the OEM simply because licenses are not freely offered in the hardware gaming industry as they are with computer peripherals.

[Deacon Brown]

  what said:

Maybe, but it's still a pretty big '**** you' after 4 years.

True and im not saying M$ are right but is there a law that could over turn this?

Are M$ by law meant to allow any tom dick and harry access there equipement?

[-KJ]

  what said:

Maybe, but it's still a pretty big '**** you' after 4 years.

Agreed. I'd be pretty ****ed myself if I were affected from this.

[Deacon Brown]

  BetaAddict said:

This really is no different that Apple and the iPod ecosystem. Xbox is a closed platform owned by MS and they are free to control what products are compatible with it. It all comes back down to licensing. If MS is denying Datel a chance to get a license but has offered others a similar license, then this case just might have some water. But as it seems, like most third party accessories, they are not licensed by the OEM simply because licenses are not freely offered in the hardware gaming industry as they are with computer peripherals.

So does M$ by law have to allow Datel to buy the License needed to connect there equipment to the 360?

[HawkMan]

  Deacon Brown said:

So does M$ by law have to allow Datel to buy the License needed to connect there equipment to the 360?

quick question, but do you really think writing MS with a $ makes you cool or something ?

[Shaun N.]

A lot of people jump to Apples defence for locking their software with their hardware, Why can't Microsoft lock their hardware to only be able to use their peripherals?

[neufuse Veteran]

what next, someone suing MS because we can't put 3rd party OS's on the XBOX? give me a break, it's MS's hardware, they license 3rd party products, if they want to license it they can if not then tough

[Shaun N.]

  what said:

Maybe, but it's still a pretty big '**** you' after 4 years.

They should be happy they got 4 years of profit out of it.

[bob_c_b]

  Deacon Brown said:

Im lost here

Why would datel win this battle?

If M$ want you to only use there licences equipment with thier own 360, how can a company come a long and sue because M$ has stopped thier equipment from working on it?

Im not saying its good for M$ to do this but i don't get why they will win a case when its M$ own machine?

Well your clever swapping of the S with a $ has convinced me you know exactly what you are talking about :rolleyes:

That said, I agree with your point, it just got lost in your attempt at 1998's Internet humor.

[Deacon Brown]

  HawkMan said:

quick question, but do you really think writing MS with a $ makes you cool or something ?

Why should it?

I do it becuase i am lazy, I could use MS instead or even Microsoft, but that is to long and I always find my fingers go straight for the $ so i use that instead.

  bob_c_b said:

Well your clever swapping of the S with a $ has convinced me you know exactly what you are talking about :rolleyes:

That said, I agree with your point, it just got lost in your attempt at 1998's Internet humor.

Thanks bob

I think

[what]

  Shaun_ said:

They should be happy they got 4 years of profit out of it.

I'm talking about the customers, not Datel themselves. They leech off other companies' hardware to make profits. I have no sympathy for them.

[Shaun N.]

It is a pain for the Customers in the end but Microsoft would just say you should have bought the "Genuine" hardware from the start

[Trong]

I don't really see how this is any different than Apple wanting you to use OS X with only their hardware and iPods with iTunes.

If they want to close off something, they should be allowed (for the most part).