In a media release, Fortnite outlined the changes it has implemented, such as increased parental controls and “cabined” accounts that encourage players to be honest about their age when playing. “We’ve learned from our players and have continually enhanced our features, policies and payment mechanics since Fortnite launched,” Epic Games said in a statement on their website. The game has already undergone changes since it came out, based on feedback and to better protect young gamers. “We plan to fight this in court,” Muñoz wrote. In a statement to CBC, Natalie Muñoz, the communications director for Epic Games, said the company is prepared to argue its case. The plaintiffs claim that these bodily injuries include their Fortnite-playing children showing signs of “troubling behaviour” including: not sleeping, not eating, not showering and no longer socializing with their peers.Īlthough the case is based in Quebec, the law firm behind the lawsuit, CaLex, claims more than 280 people have reached out to them about joining the lawsuit from across Canada. POLL - Do you think Fortnite skins are worth the money?.Two: They want to receive compensation for “bodily injury” kids experienced while playing the game. One: They wish to have all the money kids spent on in-game currency or v-bucks returned. The plaintiffs, who are the people arguing against Epic Games and Fortnite, claim two things. This judge’s authorization to proceed is just the beginning in a long legal battle, which could take up to a decade to be finalized.Īlthough Fortnite is free to play, players are encouraged to purchase skins or character cosmetics, some of which are seen here. The case, which was brought to the courts in 2019 by three Quebec parents, has received permission to proceed. Meanwhile, a judge in Quebec has authorized a class-action lawsuit against Epic Games for different reasons.Ī class-action lawsuit is “basically a group of people that share a similar problem and that are looking for a solution to their problem,” said Jean-Philippe Caron, one of the CaLex Legal lawyers working on the Quebec case. WATCH - Arjun asks why Canada doesn’t have any laws to protect kids online.“We accepted this agreement because we want Epic to be at the forefront of consumer protection and provide the best experience for our players,” the statement went on to say. “No developer creates a game with the intention of ending up here,” Epic said in a statement. That broken rule was a law known as the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), which seeks to protect kids online.Īccording to the FTC, Epic Games violated COPPA law by collecting personal information from Fortnite players under 13 without parental consent and deploying design tricks to get kids to download in-game content that costs real-world money. This record-breaking fine is the largest ever for breaking an FTC rule. government whose job it is to protect consumers. The fines were imposed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). 19 in the U.S., Epic Games agreed to pay $520 million US in fines and rebates to affected players. (Image credit: K-CityGaming/YouTube) Situation in the U.S. The company has already made some changes to the game to protect young players, but at least one expert says there are additional steps that kids can take to make sure their only injuries are virtual ones.įortnite is popular among kids, like 12-year-old Beck, who plays with his entire family and streams it on YouTube. In a separate lawsuit in Canada, Epic Games is being accused of harming kids because Fortnite - according to some parents - is addictive. In the U.S., the company was accused of collecting information about kids without permission and tricking them into paying for in-game features.įor that, it has to pay $520 million US in fines and rebates to affected players. ⬇️ ⬇️ ⬇️Įpic Games, the company behind the video game Fortnite, is facing a new kind of battle royale - the legal kind. Keep reading to hear one expert’s tips for gaming safely. This comes after some parents said their kids were addicted to Fortnite and overspent on in-game purchases.Įpic Games says it’s already making changes to protect younger players. Meanwhile, in Canada, a Quebec judge has approved a class-action lawsuit against Epic Games. The company behind Fortnite was accused of tricking players into spending real money in the game and collecting information about kids without parental permission. Concerns range from in-app purchases to 'addicted' childrenĮpic Games has agreed to pay millions in fines following a ruling in the U.S.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |