Class Action Lawsuit Against Ubisoft for Using Starforce

[Yatta]

Christopher Spence has filed a $5 million class action lawsuit (http://eplaw.us/sf/UbisoftComplaint032406.pdf) (.pdf file) against Ubisoft for judiciously using the Starforce DRM in their games. Found this story at Kotaku (http://www.kotaku.com/gaming/legal/5m-class-action-lawsuit-against-ubisoft-for-starforce-164303.php). Here’s his complaint:

Starforce DRM can compromise Windows operating systems’ security. Any virus or trojan can control a computer by and through the Stareforce DRM installed on the computer, despite the security measures taken in newer versions of Windows.

Users receive no notice that removing Starforce DRM is necessary to prevent possible security compromises on their computer systems. Worse, removal of a Starforce Title does not always remove Starforce DRM software.

That wasn't written very well, but it’s interesting nevertheless whether the case is heard, or thrown out. It is interesting that this is against Ubisoft and not Starforce, but if the case is won, I imagine it would have some repercussions for Starforce if other publishers become wary of using their product. It’d also be interesting to see Starforce’s response on the matter.

[Dash 9]

The official forum of the Starforce website is a hoot to read.

http://www.star-force.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=841

[Delicieuxz]

Why would he deserve $5 million, and why would he sue Ubi? Not only does he deserve to have his case thrown out, but he also deserves a smackdown to go along with it. Being an idiot in public does not bring favor to your cause, except maybe from other idiots.

[GodBlitZor]

I hope Ubi goes under. Instead of making all them shitty Tom Clancy games they could have made XIII : 2, but they didnt. :tinyted:

[ZuljinRaynor]

Hey, Splinter Cell is not shitty. The other games may be, but not SC since it really wasn't made by Tom Clancy; he just had to green light it to have his name put on it.

[GodBlitZor]

I SC was horrible in my opinion. And I also didnt even say Tom made the games, I said ubi did. Make a XIII - 2. :tinyted:

[Kronx]

Ubi's made a some good games. They also hold the Might and Magic license making them ever-more-so important.

[avatar_58]

He's a fool and won't get any money, but its nice to see anything against starforce.

[ZuljinRaynor]

Blitz, do you even like stealth? If you don't, then why the hell would you play a stealth game?

This case has no chance.

[Mountain Man]

At the very least, this will create some bad publicity for Starforce and help reinforce to other publishers and developers that it is something that their customers do not want.

[Wamplet]

I like Ubisoft.

The problem with people suing nowadays is they fail to sue the people that are truly responsible. They just sue the people that are connected to the problem and have the money.

I'm sure it's going to be much easier to scrape up 5 million gold for Ubisoft, rather than Starforce.

[MAT]

I like Ubisoft.

The problem with people suing nowadays is they fail to sue the people that are truly responsible. They just sue the people that are connected to the problem and have the money.

I'm sure it's going to be much easier to scrape up 5 million gold for Ubisoft, rather than Starforce.

Playing too much Oblivion? :p

[Wamplet]

Playing too much Oblivion? :p

Actually, I am referencing Ultima Online. ;)

[KaiserSoze]

My brother just got "starforced". He installed a demo with that crap in it a few weeks ago. He removed the program after I warned him about it but now his cd and dvd drives aren't recognizing discs and he's getting bsods. For the record, he never, ever had a problem with his computer until after he installed the demo with starshit.

I will also not be buying any company's games that actively support starforce. Ubisoft tops that list.

[ZuljinRaynor]

KS, did you bro use the removal software to fix the problem though?

[8IronBob]

I SC was horrible in my opinion. And I also didnt even say Tom made the games, I said ubi did. Make a XIII - 2. :tinyted:

Duhh, then that would make it XIV, now wouldn't it?

Needless to say, I did appreciate Prince of Persia from Ubisoft, but outside of that, Splinter Cell was okay, it depends on which game from the series you liked better than the other. I really would've liked to see some better titles from them, but not too sure if that's ever gonna happen...

[Sayantan]

KS, did you bro use the removal software to fix the problem though?

What Removal Software?

Why should he even bother about removing it seperately? The installer (or in this case, security files) should be made in such a manner that your machine stays "perfectly" the same before installing and after uninstalling a particular software.

[Cerberus_e]

What demo was it?
And what if you got "starforced", when your CD/DVD drive gives errors, what then? There has to be a way to fix it, because if a tiny little piece of software can damage your hardware, then it seems wrong.
Shouldn't hardware be made so software can't physically damage it?

[John]

Dude, that "Nerva" guy on those StarForce forums is a ****ing idiot.

-QUOTE-
Do you consider articles in reputable magazines to be legit, or would you still have to repeat the reported issue in your test labs before you even consider it a problem?
---------------------------------------------------------
Nerva :
What do you call "reputable magazines"? Plz give me some links. If once the very famous reputable magazine posted an article which was payed by famous copy protection company - such magazine stops to be a reputable for me.
The second thing that i want to say is that no one reputable magazine make thier own reserch, using thier own hardware facility to test and then describe the SF protection. They just collect rumours from the internet and professionally combined it. There is no any proof of anything in these articles. I will continue thies topic commenting your next qoute...
-------------------------------------------
-QUOTE-
What most of us are asking for is more than "we've tested it, we've checked with the hardware manufacturer, it's not our problem". We're looking for hard proof, testing results, a brief rundown of the info provided by other groups proving you're right, anything other than "it's not our fault".
------------------------------------------------------------------
Nerva:
More than once we'v asked famous reputable online test labs like THG to test our system and make an independent professional conclusion, to stop all this flood and offencive against us. But we'v recived negative replay or even havent recive any answer.
I can understand why ppl do not belive us when we post something like:
"we've tested it, we've checked with the hardware manufacturer, it's not our problem"
But you should uderstand us too - we wount belive to "reputable magazines" while there is no skilfully, independent testing by test labs, not journalists, who can beautifully wright, but do not understand anything in technical side.

Jesus christ...

[GodBlitZor]

Duhh, then that would make it XIV, now wouldn't it?

No it wouldnt.:doh:

[Cerberus_e]

I think I got Starforced. One of my CD burning software always used to work in the past but when I start it now it reboots my PC.
I had to remove its registry key from "run" too because part of it starts when the Pc starts, so it was one loop of rebooting.
I don't know for sure it's because of Starforce, but all this commotion lately about reboots makes me suspect it :)

[Mongorian]

My neighbor is a Russian woman who goes back and forth from here to the motherland. She's a musician, and records her music there because she was taught there.

At any rate, Her son lives in Russia and develops software. According to her he works on Starforce.

lolz

[John]

I WILL KILL HIM WITH MY ANTI-IDIOT STICK!!!! :mad:


:( First they were reds, now they are Starforce employees. WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE RUSSIANS?

[ZuljinRaynor]

Motherland~!