Cryptic/Atari sale/ad alteration meets standards of False Advertising.

brihtwulf

Claiming that an item is being sold for a particular price and properties until a certain date, then changing the "sale"/advertisement constitutes false advertising according to U.S. Law.

"Any advertising or promotion that misrepresents the nature, characteristics, qualities or geographic origin of goods, services or commercial activities" (Lanham Act, 15 U.S.C.A. § 1125(a)).

By declaring that Star Trek Online was available at a $10 discount, with an additional 60 days free game time (which was advertized on the main www.startrekonline.com website AND plainly visible in the store), this constitutes and advertisement for the sale of goods. That same advertisement also specifically said that the price and conditions would be available until March 3, 2010. However, on March 1, 2010, the details were changed to disclude the previous free 60 days of game play time. This specific act represents false advertisement, most similar to practices of "bait and switch".

In the U.S., consumers are entitled to protective measures including filing with the Better Business Bureau (www.bbb.org), The Federal Trade Commission Bureau of Consumer Protection (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/index.shtml), or assistance of U.S. bar certified attourneys.

 

Faerin

Not that we don't appreciate the info there are multiple threads containing this story already including one by MMORPG.com

It is best to contain all info into those threads so as not to be carrying our spam into mmorpg forums.

 

Respectfully,

-Vox 

krowxxvii

This is an Internet crime. Be sure to report it to IC3.

Heretique

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Originally posted by krowxxvii
This is an Internet crime. Be sure to report it to IC3.

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Wonder how many people actually will. They should, if you feel you got the shaft you have rights.

crowt244

Amen, total crap to pull on paying customers. Word of mouth does work. Use it.

Crow T