Datel files antitrust suit against Microsoft

Hands up who didn’t see this coming!

Gaming peripheral stalwart Datel was mightily screwed over recently when the update that brought us such wonders as Twitter & Facebook on the Xbox 360 landed.  The new update blocked the use of any non-Microsoft memory units from working on the system.  I am sure MS will claim this is an antipiracy move but it works out nicely for them too as they once again can charge stupid fees for their console storage solutions.  Well Datel have now filled a antitrust law suit against the Redwood giant citing “relief pursuant to the California Unfair Competition Law” as their cause for concern.

Howard Rice, the senior attorney representing Datel, had these words to say in a statement issued earlier.

“Microsoft has taken steps to render inoperable the competing Datel memory card for no visible purpose other than to have that market entirely to themselves. They accomplished their recent update by making a system change that will not recognise or allow operation of a memory card with greater capacity than their own. We believe that with the power Microsoft enjoys in the market for Xbox accessories this conduct is unlawful.  On information and belief, 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. 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.”

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