Kaen v Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc.
Massive Numbers of Sony PlayStation 2 Owners Say Their Consoles Won't Play DVDs
A national class action has been filed against Sony Computer Entertainment America, Inc. on behalf of millions of consumers who allege that the company violated state consumer protection and unfair business practices laws when it deceived them by advertising that the PlayStation 2 video game console also functions reliably as a DVD player. The action seeks unspecified compensatory and punitive damages.
The action alleges that many Sony PlayStation 2 display a "disc read error" when users try to play a DVD. The alleged problems also include freezing up, skipping, synchronization problems, and pixelization of certain DVDs, all of which existed at the time of sale. The console's packaging allegedly states that it will function reliably as a DVD player, but also indicates in very small print that some DVDs will not play because of variations in DVD production.
It is noteworthy that Sony is one of the ten companies that collaborated in the development of the rigid standards that are now used in the production of all DVD disks. Allegedly, Sony knew or at the very least should have known that the consoles have problems playing DVD movies, and it has not thus far come forward and done any sort of recall or given any public announcement.
Once the problem is reported to the company, Sony allegedly treats its customers unfairly, charging them $120 to have their PlayStation 2 units shipped back to the company and repaired. There are currently dozens of Internet sites where people are either chatting about or complaining about problems with PlayStation 2. Sony has even posted messages on its own Internet forums stating that it will delete postings about the "disc read error" problem because the website isn't the proper forum for technical support.
