Game devs suing people for bad reviews..

[Gingerbread Demon]

I just saw this video from The Know about a game dev on Steam suing people for bad reviews of their games. I have heard of these guys before but they get the bad reviews because most of their games are bad in some way. So it's not like people are outright lying and if this were common practice why aren't the well known game companies trying this tactic when they get a bad review?

I will just leave the link to the video here.. I've made up my own mind on this kind of thing and I think it's a pretty shitty business practice..

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Rincewiend]

Yeah, it's the same idiots who wanted to sue Jim Sterling for being a bit snarky in one of his reviews...

To view this content we will need your consent to set third party cookies.
For more detailed information, see our cookies page.

Accept third party cookies

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Apparently, Valve has now removed every Digital Homicide game from Steam.

http://techraptor.net/content/digital-homicides-games-removed-steam

Good for them.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

Apparently, Valve has now removed every Digital Homicide game from Steam.

http://techraptor.net/content/digital-homicides-games-removed-steam

Good for them.

That wasn't surprising. Took this to have that happen, that's the surprising part.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

There are other **** games on Steam, of course. Censoring myself so hopefully I won't get sued.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

We've had some issues in our family with ex's abusing the legal system to try to bully to get their way just through the legal costs it takes to defend even when the other party is in the right so it always pisses me off when I see companies due this to people.

 

[eastman23]

Yeah, it's the same idiots who wanted to sue Jim Sterling for being a bit snarky in one of his reviews...

They are actually suing him - at least the lawsuit is still in progress but hasn't moved a whole lot in the last few months. The only thing Jim has said about it is that he is involved in legal proceedings with certain individuals without giving details or naming names. Which I suppose is generally a good thing to do when involved in a lawsuit. He mentioned on his podcast shortly after the lawsuit was launched that he's not worried about it and I can't imagine that feeling has changed at all.

But yeah, good on Steam for removing all those games.

 

[sojourner]

This is no longer an issue.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

This is no longer an issue.

That's very interesting if it passes.

 

[φ of π]

I wonder if they should change their name to "Digital Suicide"?

 

[loghaD]

I am not a lawyer so I might be wrong about how the system works, but in my dream world, Valve will pledge to insure Jim Sterling if he decides to countersue (emotional distress? lack of theoretical profits due to expended time?) these scumbags.

People who abuse the justice system to censor people need to be taken to task.

Edit: And all the other sued commenters, too; I was mistakenly under the impression that that issue was already solved.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

How is this not a straight first amendment issue?

So long as you're telling your honest opinion and you aren't threatening a negative review for special treatment?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

How is this not a straight first amendment issue?

The first amendment only applies to government restrictions on speech. It has nothing to do with private corporations.

 

[-Brett-]

The odds of this becoming a common practice seem remote.

 

[Robert Maxwell]

The first amendment only applies to government restrictions on speech. It has nothing to do with private corporations.

You can also sue people for anything you want. Doesn't mean you'll win. Lawsuits themselves end up being bargaining chips to obtain some extrajudicial outcome, like a cash settlement or just removing the offending review.

I'm glad Congress is moving to outlaw this, though, because it's straight-up intimidation. In this case, it's a textbook SLAPP.

 

[sojourner]

The odds of this becoming a common practice seem remote.

Too late.

 

[Gingerbread Demon]

See that's the thing. Now that the genie is out of the bottle and one company has tried to do this others might try their luck.

 

[sojourner]

Who said it's just "one company"? Do you think there would be legislation in congress if there had only been one company?

 

[Robert Maxwell]

A successful lawsuit of this nature is far more likely to encourage copycats. Thus far I don't believe there has been one, so let's save the doom and gloom.

 

[eastman23]

http://www.usgamer.net/articles/digital-homicide-destroyed-drops-legal-case-against-steam-users

They're dropping the lawsuit against the Steam users for "financial reasons". Oh, and the company is "destroyed".

The lawsuit against Jim Sterling is still active though.