Maybe so, depending on what games you have tied to the account, but bricking a console is illegal in many countries
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Kotaku - Microsoft Punishes Gears Leakers By Making Their Xbox Ones Unusable
- Thread starter Fracas
- Start date
Maybe so, depending on what games you have tied to the account, but bricking a console is illegal in many countries
MatrixMan.EXE
Member
Enforcement going in hard. No surprise though, they take NDA's seriously, as do most companies. I had to sign a pretty lengthy one when I started working there, and I remember I even had to agree to another separate one when they demoed Halo 5 at the office last year.
A lot of people forget that in the tech industry, NDA's are so important. The competition is a lot stronger than most other industries, and due to all the people you could upset if things leaked such as Marketing team, PR team etc, you want to make sure things stay as close to your chest as possible. So I don't blame MSFT, and as many have said, they could have easily fined/sued the clowns.
A lot of people forget that in the tech industry, NDA's are so important. The competition is a lot stronger than most other industries, and due to all the people you could upset if things leaked such as Marketing team, PR team etc, you want to make sure things stay as close to your chest as possible. So I don't blame MSFT, and as many have said, they could have easily fined/sued the clowns.
These are exactly the same arguments that people make for taking away privacy and civil freedoms
not remotely the same
Zok310
Banned
Thats a bit harsh. Kick them out of the beta and ban that console from ever getting another beta invite. Bricking something i paid $400+ for is over the top. They leaked a GOW remake lol, thats like Sony disabling your console for you leaking the God of War 3 remake.
MS again going above and beyond to punish people for doing simple everyday nonsense.
MS again going above and beyond to punish people for doing simple everyday nonsense.
lol shout outs to false analogies. These guys signed an agreement that they broke and Microsoft has a system in place to punish that, no civil freedoms being given up here, put the tin foil hat away and relax
Microsoft could do much worse if they wanted to these guys I'm sure, and honestly they'd have the right to do so.
Honestly, NDAs are a big deal people. They can sue you to oblivion for leaking something like this. Millions of dollars are involved in a product like GoW, so the fact that they banned their console is the least of their worries right now.
If Microsoft decides to sue, you can be assured that a 400$ console is nothing compared to the punishment Microsoft will bring upon them.
If Microsoft decides to sue, you can be assured that a 400$ console is nothing compared to the punishment Microsoft will bring upon them.
I guess you don't understand NDA's
Septimus Prime
Member
I guess here's a question for VMC GAF: did you guys have to sign additional NDAs from VMC's clients? If not, I wonder if the breach of contract is actually VMC breaching MS's NDA, where MS could sue VMC (which could then in turn sue the leakers for breaching their NDA). I would imagine both NDAs would allow the Company to sue for an unlimited amount of money, due to irreparable damage caused by breaches, too.
lmao at that blanket statement.
BLUElightCory
Member
Exactly this.
Dear god Kotaku's comment section is awful. People are just blatantly bashing Microsoft and the Xbox One at any chance they get, no matter the context.
Anyway, it was utterly stupid for people to think they could leak content under NDA and not face consequences. That's the whole point of an NDA, no matter if you disagree with the concept of them they are there to protect your property from being showcased before its ready.
Anyway, it was utterly stupid for people to think they could leak content under NDA and not face consequences. That's the whole point of an NDA, no matter if you disagree with the concept of them they are there to protect your property from being showcased before its ready.
Demoskinos
Member
Bricked console should be the least of their worries. They can be sued legally in a court of law. You don't want a giant corporations lawyers after you when they have proof that you broke a contract. These guys better pray they don't get taken to court or they are FUCKED.
Oh my god.... My toaster too?
LOL
Im sorry but this is on devs. Why would you give out a game to HOME testers before announcing it?
LOL come on. Too funny....
Talking about lawsuits.....lol
The PR disaster this would be would not even come close to what they could get in court from game "testers." These guys are judgment proof....
Im sorry but this is on devs. Why would you give out a game to HOME testers before announcing it?
LOL come on. Too funny....
Talking about lawsuits.....lol
The PR disaster this would be would not even come close to what they could get in court from game "testers." These guys are judgment proof....
What...VMC isn't some "home" testers setup. They deal with multiple publishers and developers when it comes to QA testing.
Home testers who signed up for a beta testing service, signed an NDA, and were paid for their work? If you don't know what you're talking about, look up VMC.
What? They went through a company who hosts directed testing sessions to try and focus on certain things in the game with a bigger network scope. If you're testing for VMC, you sign an NDA. Breaking a contract that has clearly laid out legal ramifications for leaking something is beyond stupid and those people doing it deserve to be punished to the extent that was laid out.
ptuck874
Member
no additional nda's but they do stress how important it is in every email they send out with double and triple reminders when it starts, when you get the download codes,etc. I don't think vmc will be sued or anything like that at all, they did all they can do to educate people....
LithiumSpade
Member
Things I learnt today from this topic:
- People believe Microsoft is doing something Sony wouldn't do identically in the same situation
- Apparently allowing people to test games from home is stupid and if things get leaked that's the developer's fault
- Many of the people on Neogaf (which I generally consider to be the higher end for quality of discussion and knowledge in this industry) have no idea what an NDA is, how it works, or how it is enforced
- Many of those who do know what an NDA is apparently think it's unfair if said contract is enforced.
As I once saw a poster say, it would appear correctly, "there is a defence force for everything".
Also Microsoft is literally the devil.
- People believe Microsoft is doing something Sony wouldn't do identically in the same situation
- Apparently allowing people to test games from home is stupid and if things get leaked that's the developer's fault
- Many of the people on Neogaf (which I generally consider to be the higher end for quality of discussion and knowledge in this industry) have no idea what an NDA is, how it works, or how it is enforced
- Many of those who do know what an NDA is apparently think it's unfair if said contract is enforced.
As I once saw a poster say, it would appear correctly, "there is a defence force for everything".
Also Microsoft is literally the devil.
My statement is the truth, not a blanket statement. The only thing that keeps a lot of us safe is that most people don't know enough to use the real knowledge that people actually post on the internet. I am more worried about someone piggybacking onto a car companies network and deciding to play bumper cars than I am a game console being bricked.
This would have bothered me years ago before I started working in the tech field and learned what really dangerous shit is possible.
Oh no they SIGN A NDA!!! Are they sending in the ninja's?!?!?!?! lol
You forgot the biggest lesson of all. Dont send you game to home testers until you announce it....
This would have been almost a non-story if they had already announce the game.
Thats it, throw gas on the fire.
Ill get the popcorn ready!!
,
Worse, they're sending the lawyers.
I think, as a consumer, the fact that they can remotely brick your console is extremely scary. They had a legitimate reason in this case, but ultimately they have the power and they can decide to brick your console for whatever reason at any given time, a console that you paid for and is, for all intents and purposes, your property.
A lawsuit would actually be a more appropriate response to this IMO.
A lawsuit would actually be a more appropriate response to this IMO.
A lawsuit takes time, but from the email it seems like it is probably coming.
Scully Scully Scoo
Member
now thats fair. and to think people in here were 100% ok with consoles getting bricked because of leaking fukin video game footage haha
Reread the Kotaku article, apparently the console is not bricked. So people can stop freaking out about this and should start educating themselves on the EULAs they signed and what NDAs are.
blankempathy
Member
Scary how? Do you think gaming companies are going to start abusing this? Not even a chance of this happening. Thanks to social media if gamers get wind that companies are abusing this and bricking/banning consoles without valid reasons then they're going to face a pr nightmare.
Yeah I just read it, I have no problem with this if their console is still playable offline.
edit:
It is scary because the console manufacturer should not have the ability to make a console purposely unplayable.
Sony faced a PR nightmare for removing Other OS from the PS3, in the end they weathered the storm and now no one even remembers it.
FlutterPuffs
Member
Mate, they're working for VMC. The reason why there's home testers is they probably want to test for network issues or bugs.
This happens more than you know, but most are smart enough to NOT break NDA because of the significant repercussions.
And you're damn right they are sending ninjas. Corporate suit wearing legal ninjas.
In my country though, they're called lawyers.
Please, please stop or you will hurt yourself. I have a feeling if you ever get into legal trouble you'll just laugh it off and claim ignorance.
All they did is banned them for XBL.
But its likely means any digital game wont work.
Stillmatic
Member
Banned from Xbox Live is fine and justified (which seems like is what happened).
Bricking a console for breaking NDA is not. Really odd reading the first few pages.
Bricking a console for breaking NDA is not. Really odd reading the first few pages.
I'm not sure you realise the seriousness in leaking NDA content, be it video games or something else. An NDA is there to protect the creators from the public seeing in-development work, and especially in the case of video games where people get so uptight about downgrades and such. Breaking a legal binding contract is some serious business.
The only thing they are guilty of is reporting what a spokesperson told them before the whole story was clarified. They posted the info they had at that point without double/triple checking and now they are fixing the original mistake through an update. They jumped the gun a bit.
KoopaTheCasual
Junior Member
I'd rather have a bricked console than a lawsuit (and yes, i understand that legal action might very well be on the way. My point being a bricked console is peanuts in the grand scheme)
The remote bricking is a scary notion, i'm not too fond of that.
XBL banning is somewhat more "palatable" because you're punishing someone without making the equipment unusable, even though it could actually be worse in terms of actual value.
That being said, $400 seems like a pretty good deal for people who break NDAs, let's see if they're going to be further prosecuted or not.
I must say that I am a bit tired of this "hey, look at me, i'm leaking stuff that I shouldn't and I'll be famous for 15 minutes!" era we're leaving in.
There are almost no surprises left in this industry and that makes me kinda sad.
XBL banning is somewhat more "palatable" because you're punishing someone without making the equipment unusable, even though it could actually be worse in terms of actual value.
That being said, $400 seems like a pretty good deal for people who break NDAs, let's see if they're going to be further prosecuted or not.
I must say that I am a bit tired of this "hey, look at me, i'm leaking stuff that I shouldn't and I'll be famous for 15 minutes!" era we're leaving in.
There are almost no surprises left in this industry and that makes me kinda sad.
Shao Kahn Brewing a Stew
Banned
If I could tell you people all the games I've played under NDA...
But I can't. For 5 years. NDA is serious even if it doesn't seem like it.
But I can't. For 5 years. NDA is serious even if it doesn't seem like it.
Scully Scully Scoo
Member
if they were serious business ms would file a law suit, has there ever been a lawsuit brought against a leaker? its bloody video games
HORRORSHØW
Member
no sympathy for those who break their nda
You're honestly asking if someone who has broken an NDA ever faced legal action before?
NDAs are serious no matter what they are protecting, these games have millions of dollars invested into them.
You know that your bloody video game is costing more to develop than your favorite blockbuster movie. So if it leaks early, they have every right to be pissed about it. The NDAs that are signed are to avoid people giving away details that could change at any moment. For all we know, the project could have been cancelled at some point and people would have never seen it.
Things change in the industry when you develop a game, you don't want anything to be revealed that you didn't plan for, because the competition will tear you apart otherwise.
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