ioi said:
Let us be realistic here - this isn't stealing, murdering or committing fraud. Personally I think the word "illegal" is a little OTT - it may be against FTC guidelines and could end up worst case with somebody being fined or more likely slapped on the wrists. It is such a widespread practice and such a grey area that nothing is ever going to happen in reality. Microsoft could argue that by tagging the videos with XB1M13 that they were pointing out that they were part of a promotion. Also they would argue that the confidentiality was in revealing the actual pricing details of the plan, not the existence of it. There are so many ways to squirm and move and so many grey areas that the whole thing is pointless. If Top Gear (UK or USA) "reviews" a car - do you honestly believe that they haven't been paid in some way to do so? All of the issues we've had over the years with sites posting positive reviews and running massive ad takeovers at the same time (which is as common today as ever). This happens everywhere, it just happens that someone decided to leak this and try to make a story of it. |
I am a fact based guy, unless there is concrete evidence that there are many companies doing this, I won;t consider it. Also, like I said if in fact they are two wrongs dont make a right. Either way this being a gaming site it is easy to see why it got the reaction on gaming forums.
This type of unethical BS should be called out no matter who is doing it.
