Tuesday, January 29th 2008
Rockstar Reaches Hot Coffee Settlement
Rockstar Games has now managed to reach a settlement over the infamous "Hot Coffee" dispute which allowed gamers to unlock explicit content in Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Customers who still have the original disk and a detailed store receipt can claim up to $35 in compensation, and those with just the disk but no receipt will still be able to claim $5.
Defendants do not dispute that the parts that were modified and combined to display the Hot Coffee content were present in the code of the game discs. However, Defendants vigorously deny each and every allegation of improper conduct, and they deny all liability. The notice and other settlement documents provide information about the lawsuit, the settlement, your legal rights, what benefits are available, who is eligible for them, and how to get them. To download a notice package.
28 Comments on Rockstar Reaches Hot Coffee Settlement
Rockstar coded it, and left it in. It's they're fault and they're responsibility for not removing it.
While it may seem 'silly' that people would sue over this, and we question their motives, by law they have a right to do so.
Customers entered a voluntary contract with Rockstar games, to provide a game that meets a particular rating, in this case it's "M" correct? If the court can determine that the content of the 'hot coffee' scene(s) exceeds that of "M" rating, then that contract between Rockstar and their consumers has been broken, negated, voided, neglected etc. by Rockstar.
They are responsible for the content and for the marketing.
The ESRB should also be responsible, even though they may be able to claim ignorance.
Personally, I like seeing this. I don't condone wreckless use of litigation, but, the concept of a large company of this caliber, having to give in to a normal consumer because of a contract dispute, is refreshing, as opposed to yet another company squashing an individual or group of individuals because they can with their big-wig lawyers and corporate domination - money bleeding approach.
And to loop back to Jim's comment/comparison concerning Microsoft: had something similar happened to Microsoft, say the findings of two anime chicks having sex in a 3d modelling program that Microsoft built or 'packaged' with Vista, people would be up in arms.
On principle alone it's unacceptable and inappropriate, but they'd be raving mad just because they're anti-MS, not pro morals or ethics.
Motivation is a key player, but law is law; break it and pay the consequences.