Re:Epic will pay off class-action loot-box settlement with i...
by alasdair_ on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @12:12PM
(#26239823)
> It's legal because both sides agreed to settle for it.
I bet the lawyers representing the class aren't getting paid in VBucks. There are really three sides - Epic, the consumers, and the lawyers.
The fact that class actions are opt-out instead of opt-in is a big part of the problem.
Re:Epic will pay off class-action loot-box settlement with i...
by njharman on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @12:07PM
(#26239744)
There are lots of things that are still illegal even if both sides agree to it. Slavery for instance. Also all the things covered by consumer protection litigation, which top commenter is probably thinking of.
The conditions/clauses of the agreement must not be illegal.
Re:Epic will pay off class-action loot-box settlement with i...
by kemiller on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @12:12PM
(#26239824)
Hmm, I’m guessing the lawyers behind the suit aren’t getting paid in loot.
Re:Epic will pay off class-action loot-box settlement with i...
by A12-B on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @10:41AM
(#26238526)
Lol, I'm sure every single person in the class action suit agreed to the settlement, and otherwise would be able to afford to sue them again. Right.
Settlements are decided by a single class representative, and other class members are often not given notice of their right to opt-out or counter-sue.
Re:Epic will pay off class-action loot-box settlement with i...
by sudhirj on Tuesday February 23, 2021 @10:56AM
(#26238748)
And that's why you'd opt into a class action in the first place. You have a problem, you elect someone to handle it for you, give them decision making power and accept the outcome they've been able to achieve. It's just democracy, no?
If it was an individual suing Epic, and they agreed to go away in return for some shiny digital magic beans, you wouldn't see anything wrong with that. What's different if a million customers settle for it?
Customers can opt out of the class action, or start their own competing one. What would be a real problem is if other customers opted out, sued Epic individually, didn't settle, and the judge used the "payout" from the previous settlement to decide what a fair compensation would be. That hasn't happened here.