Ubisoft’s dastardly trick – The free game comes with a legal catch
Ubisoft offered an “apology” by giving owners of Unity’s Season Pass a free game. At first I thought, wow that is at least something, until I realized that it is yet another dastardly trick by Ubisoft. The free game is definitely not out of the kindness of their hearts or even to simply apologize for a terrible game. Here is how the free game comes with a rather impactful legal catch.
The free game and why Ubisoft benefits
Assassins Creed: Unity has been the most broken game of 2014. The game is a bug ridden piece of garbage delivered by Ubisoft. So much so that they offer everyone who owns the Season Pass a free game to compensate.
At first sight, it looked like Ubisoft was trying to make amends. Unfortunately, this is not the case. When you claim a free game, an agreement pops up. Most people would just skip reading those agreements, which is how Ubisoft is trying to catch us all.
If you do claim the free game, you give up your right to sue Ubisoft over Unity and the devaluation of the Season Pass when they give out the first DLC for free.
What this means is that Ubisoft is effectively killing any potential of a class action law suit or at the very least thinning out the plaintiffs so much that filing would be pointless. Assuming a favorable outcome if a class action lawsuit does occur, the plaintiffs would probably get the price of the game or a free game anyway.
However, the free games are digital additions, so Ubisoft is effectively saving themselves all legal fees as well as further bad publicity in court. Dick Dastardly would has a proud…
The part of the agreement that matters
“You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.” – Source
Closing statements
This is indeed a dastardly move by Ubisoft. The least they could have done is made it clear to the public when claiming the game, instead of hiding it in a legal agreement.
Did you claim the free game yet? Do you think there will be a class action lawsuit against Ubisoft for AC: Unity or did this legal agreement destroy all hope? Let us know what you think in the comment section below!
Source: Ubisoft Redemption site
Source: http://theeccentricgamer.co.za/ubisofts-dastardly-trick-the-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch/