Once again, EA is facing another class action lawsuit over the loot boxes and monetisation mechanics (not “surprise mechanics”) in its library of games.
This time the lawsuit comes from Canada, where it’s claimed that the use of loot boxes in a number of Electronic Arts games are allegedly breaking the Criminal Code of Canada, due to unlawful gaming, betting, lotteries and games of chance. The lawsuit was filed on September 30th, by joint plaintiffs, Mark Sutherland and Shawn Moore.
The claims come from Shawn Moore (who spent money in-game while playing EA’s NHL series), and Mark Sutherland (while indulging in the NFL series). Both gentlemen are residents of the British Columbia.
Both men believe they have a case to file the lawsuit because Electronic Arts does not hold a gambling license in their region. EA is being accused of “operating an unlicensed, illegal gaming system through their loot boxes.”
However, the lawsuit claimed by the pair is not just against the NHL and NFL series’, because it is also being extended to FIFA, Battlefield, Dragon Age, Mass Effect, Need for Speed and Plants vs. Zombies. The lawsuit is even against EA’s mobile games too. So basically any game from Electronic Arts that features any form of loot boxes or monetisation.
The lawsuit which is seeking damages against Electronic Arts apparently comes under the “Competition Act and a declaration that EA has contravened the Business Practices and Consumer Protection Act.”
According to the filing: “The senior officers and directors of [EA] were at all times fully aware of the unlawful nature of their enterprise and took active steps to carry it out.”
It adds: “In the alternative, the senior officers and directors… were reckless or wilfully blind to the unlawful nature of their enterprise and took active steps to implement it.“
This is most certainly not the first legal case thrown at EA in regards to the company’s practices of loot box and monetisation mechanics, and I doubt very much it will be the last. But please let us know your thoughts on this latest lawsuit against EA across our social media channels.
Source: Gamesindusty.biz
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