I speak German and even studied law for a few semesters before switiching to business IT.
Here is my analysis nobody asked for:
- lawyer of the FUT victims (fleeced for a few hundred up to 85k in the most extreme case) argued that the FUT transactions are null and void
- Lawyers Argument: FUT = gambling and Sony doesn't have an Austrian gambling license
- court sided with the FUT victims
So far so good, but allow me to rain on the parade a bit:
- the verdict isn't legally binding atm Sony can still fight the verdict
- "Bezirksgericht Hermagor" (district court) is a just a small local court, good first step to win here but sadly just a first step, this verdict doesn't change the laws in Austria overnight, let alone the EU
- the explanation for the verdict seems fishy to me. That court basically said, that FUT is gambling because the cards can be sold for money. Same is true for Panini or pokemon cards tbh
- expect a drawn out legal battle and even if Sony loses again, they will just block FUT in Austria and Austrian FUT junkies will buy packs on their German accounts, kinda like Belgians do on PSN France
Best case scenario:
- Austria ends up banning lootboxes by law
- momentum for a EU wide ban grows
- some "Whale" countries like Germany and France also ban that shit