Eurogamer

All Californian branches of US retail chain GameSpot now have to warn customers about used games that demand players buy an online pass to access some of their features.

As reported by Kotaku, for the next two years the store has to place signs on used game shelves informing customers they may have to make an additional purchase.

The new rule is a result of a class action lawsuit brought against the company by law firm Baron & Budd who alleged that GameStop was misleading customers in an attempt to maximise profits "without paying any royalties to video game publishers or developers."

"We are pleased that as a result of this lawsuit, we were able to obtain complete restitution for consumers, with actual money paid out to people who were harmed by GameStop's conduct," commented Baron & Budd attorney Mark Pifko.

"The in-store and online warnings are an important benefit under the settlement as well, because if GameStop discloses the truth to consumers, it is unlikely that they will be able to continue selling used copies of certain games for only $5 less than the price of a new copy.

"In fact, we already know that not long after the lawsuit was filed, GameStop lowered prices for used copies of many of the game titles identified in the lawsuit."

Californian GameStop customers enrolled in the store's customer loyalty program who purchased qualifying used games can claim a $10 check and a $5 coupon as compensation. Those who aren't in the loyalty program can claim a $5 check and a $10 coupon.

Baron & Budd is now looking at bringing similar suits against GameStop in other US states.

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-04-10-us-ruling-forces-gamestop-to-warn-customers-when-a-used-game-has-an-online-pass

sounds fair to me. now let the sony trolling begin!

Blockbuster already do this (in the uk), but does it not say on the games case that it requires a pass to play online?

That's good stuff. Maybe we'll get games like Saints Row (Mainly single player but still has an online pass) even cheaper, now. And you know what? I have quite a few online pass enabled games that I haven't even bothered to use the online pass on AND I've bought a lot of games used that had a redeemable code (Dragon Age Origins, Alice the Madness Returns) and the code STILL WORKED.

Either way, it should be a better deal for the consumer if this goes nation wide instead of just California. Never heard of their loyalty program, though.

They'll just put a sign in an obscure part of the store.

Probably this.  I remember when I worked in an athletic shoe store and we had a sign--I can't even remember what it said but it was something important to consumers--and we put it right in the open but it was up above everything.  It was clear as day but nobody ever noticed it was there.  It was like it was camoflauged!

If GameStop was smart, it would put this in place unilaterally rather than wait for this law firm to make a mint against it. The only one who gets rich in this case are the lawyers.

Mike from Morgantown

Hope they just put up a sign in their stores that just says "All games are used, but some games are more used than others."

Hopefully they won't have to put another sticker on the box for this.....

Hopefully they do this right and not stick the sign behind a ps2 rack.