Oct 07, 2019 10:46:00

Fortnite is in crisis of class action as `` too addictive ''

The law firm `` Calex Légal '' in Montreal, Canada is preparing to file a class action against the developer Epic Games, saying that the shooting game ``

Fort Knight '' is `` too addictive '' .

Addicted to Fortnite? Montreal law firm says video game company should pay up | CBC News
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/fortnite-lawsuit-calex-legal-montreal-1.5308625

New legal challenge accuses Epic of 'knowingly' creating the 'very, very addictive game', Fortnite? Eurogamer.net
https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2019-10-06-new-legal-challenge-accuses-epic-of-knowingly-creating-the-very-very-addictive-game-fortnite

CBC News reports that Calex Légal has filed a complaint with the court to bring a class action on behalf of two minor parents, 10 and 15. In the complaint, the addictiveness of Fortnite is compared to cocaine, and the problem is pointed out as 'releasing dopamine to the brains of young people who may depend on games.'

“We have digged into the game Fortnite and have a strong claim to this,” said Calex Légal's lawyer Alessandra Esposito Chartran, who is preparing a class action. According to Chartrean, a child's parents contacted him to sue a company that made a highly addictive game like Fort Knight. And at the time of writing the article, it seems that it is at the same time that it is searching for “parents whose children are intoxicated with the game”.

The class action is against Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, based in the United States, and its Canadian subsidiary, filed on October 3, 2019 in a court in Montreal. This case of Fortnite's addiction is based on a

class action that smokers filed against a tobacco company in Quebec, Canada in 2015. Quebec's tobacco lawsuit claims that 'the tobacco company knew about the harmful effects of cigarettes but did not fully inform smokers of the dangers, and did bad marketing activities.' The plaintiffs have won damages as much as US dollars (about 1.5 trillion yen at that rate). Chartran said, “It ’s basically based on the same legal basis. It ’s mainly about providing information,” and the game company does n’t clearly indicate to users that “the game is addictive.” I have a problem.

Attorney Charlan said that highly addictive games such as Fort Knight are the result of extensive research and development aimed at creating highly addictive games, “Epic Games created Fort Knight. Since then, we have hired psychologists for many years, who have worked hard to develop games that are as addictive as possible, devastating the human brain. It was deliberately put on the market as a very addictive game for youth. '

In addition, attorney Chartlan said, “We had two children's parents coming to us,” Fortnite is so addictive. If you knew it would ruin your child ’s life, this game 'I wasn't letting children play, and I was observing them more carefully,' he said. In addition, he pointed out that there are treatment centers in the world not only in Quebec, but also around the world to help children leave Fortnite, and claims that many children suffer from Fortnite addiction. .

The complaint is a revised version of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Issues (ICD), an international guideline for the classification of injuries and illnesses by the World Health Organization (WHO). It seems that it is emphasized that game addiction is illness, referring to the fact that “game disorder” that overplays games is recognized as a new illness.

`` Game obstacles '' that overplay games so that they interfere with everyday life are classified as sick-GIGAZINE

CBC News has asked Epic Games for comments, but at the time of writing the article was not getting a response.

The Epic Games terms of service include exemptions related to class action, which are written as follows:

Prohibition of class action
You agree that any dispute arising in connection with this Agreement will be settled as an individual, will not file a class action, and will not participate in any class action. You will be able to provide services in accordance with the terms specified in exchange for your consent to this clause and the above dispute clause, and your consent will be an essential factor in this Agreement. I understand that there is.

In addition, you will be responsible for the representative, private legal affairs in the representative litigation in relation to any dispute arising between us, our officers, directors, employees, agents or affiliates regarding the use of your services or this Agreement. You acknowledge and understand that you have waived your right to act as president or other representative qualification, or to participate in class action.