Microsoft Getting Sued For Blocking Third-Party Memory Cards
Microsoft just can’t catch a break. If they aren’t facing possible litigation for trying to crack down on modders. Then they are getting sued by a consumer trying to make a quick buck, and/or get famous. And if it’s not one of those two cases, then it’s a third-party who’s unhappy with them for blocking their product on Microsofts system.
 
Datel Design & Development, a third-party company that made memory cards for the Xbox 360 is filing an antitrust suit against Microsoft for its recent policy regarding third-party data storage options. Datel believes that Microsoft is “unfairly favoring its own Xbox 360 accessories” and creating a monopoly on that end of the market.
 
“Microsoft’s purpose in disabling Datel’s memory cards is to prevent consumers from choosing a Datel product that offers far better value for the price,” reads a statement from the company’s suit, which also says, “There is no benefit to consumers from Microsoft’s decision to target and disable Datel’s memory cards. To the contrary, Microsoft’s actions will leave approximately 50,000 consumers with useless memory cards and (without the ability to access their data on the cards), forestall innovation, and deprive future consumers of the benefits of competition.”
 
While we all know the reasoning behind Microsoft banning third-party storage solutions. I can’t say that Datel doesn’t have a case here. After all if The House of Gates does ban all other storage solutions, that in essence gives them a strangleholdmonopoly on that sector of the market. And last time i checked, those were illegal in most corporate business practices. Besides there’s nothing like some good ‘ole fashioned competition, it brings out the best in companies. And helps us save a couple dollars, as consumers along the way.
