unshittification
While I endorse the change, I believe it’s being made to avoid arbitration being weaponized by class action plaintiffs, which can be more costly than a class action lawsuit
Good, because forced arbitration is stupid anyway. We should weaponize it against scummy corporations.
What are some other companies that are also very down to earth and not using every trick in the book to get away with stuff?
I come to think of the Proton foundation, but that’s just because I am a fanboy of theirs.
Steam is the very first company I’ve ever seen do this. I’ve been getting tons of emails from random fucking companies I’ve probably created an account with at some point in the past, and they ALL do this arbitration bullshit. Steam is the only fucking company that went the other direction, and I love them for this.
Found in the comments on Steam. On one hand, I love that Steam is going in the opposite direction of literally every other company. On the other hand, it does seem like it’s not being done to be good guys.
It still was a nice surprise to see “btw no forced arbitration”.
Edit: I am too lazy to look for real sources, so take this with a grain of salt and go look for the real sources I’m too lazy to look for.
Wow reading through it certainly sounds like it’s the plaintiff law firm that’s being scummy, predatory and even funded by some VC company “Black Diamond”
what is the mass arbitration lawsuit about? Is it, as dual_sport_dork’s article suggests, an antitrust lawsuit? If that is the case… I’d rather claw back the ability to sue directly (small claims, yay!). If valve is accused of something else Id love to hear about it.
I can’t be the only one who recognizes that making people in foreign countries, like say, Austria in Europe, have to file this is in King County Courts in Seattle seems a little fucking dubious. I say this as a Washington State resident. Because it’s super easy for me to commute to Seattle to sue Valve… but it’s not for everyone else.
I don’t know what, if any, options King County Court offers for people from other countries filing suit to be able to do it remotely. I get the distinct feeling this is a “fuck you, show up on our turf or fuck off.”
Looks like District Court might have remote-access options, but I’m not sure if you’ll still have to retain a local lawyer. It says any state or federal courts, but I’m not sure if District court counts more as a city-level court than state-level.
Forced arbitration and picking jurisdictions is illegal in the EU so that clause doesn’t apply to Austria. An Austrian would file in any Austrian court that has jurisdiction for contract/civil matter. Therefore, the section with King County includes:
For All Subscribers Outside the European Union and United Kingdom: […] You and Valve agree that all disputes and claims between you and Valve (including any dispute or claim that arose before the existence of this or any prior agreement) shall be commenced and maintained exclusively in any state or federal court located in King County, Washington, having subject matter jurisdiction.
It’s because it’s cheaper to go to court with that class action lawsuit against them than it is to arbitrate with everyone affected Edited to add…
Not just pulling hot air out my ass:
Can anyone ELI5 what’s going on at Valve regarding this? I’ve read a couple of articles and am Nun the Wiser
It seems like its actually a giant fuck you to anyone who doesn’t live in King County, Washington State, USA.
Everything has to be done in King County Courts in Washington State.
That’s some big travel costs for people all over the world.
Not a lawyer, but something makes me doubt all the courts around the world would hold to this.
