Brazilian court orders Microsoft to restore hacked Xbox account and digital library
A Brazilian court ruled in favor of a gamer, requiring Microsoft to reinstate a suspended Xbox account and digital game library, and pay about $400 in damages. The case may set a precedent for digital ownership rights.
Court sides with gamer
A Brazilian court has ordered Microsoft to restore a single Xbox gamer's suspended account and accompanying video game library, according to a Reddit post by the user known as Ordo_Liberal. The saga began three months ago when the user's account was hacked. Microsoft froze the account, citing "unauthorized access," and stated that the "only option we have is to permanently suspend this account to prevent any further use."
Rather than creating a new account and rebuilding a digital library from scratch, Ordo_Liberal filed a lawsuit against the tech giant. The gamer explained on Reddit that hiring a public defendant to sue Microsoft came at no cost due to Brazil's strong consumer protection laws.
The ruling and damages
The court ordered Microsoft to restore access to the account within 15 days. If Microsoft fails to comply, it will face a daily fine of 150 reais (about $30), capped at 1,500 reais (roughly $300). Additionally, the court ordered Microsoft to pay 2,000 reais (approximately $400) to Ordo_Liberal as compensation.
Implications for digital rights
While this case may not have the monetary impact of class-action lawsuits, it could offer a glimmer of hope for consumers increasingly concerned about companies transitioning to digital-only libraries. Engadget has reached out to Microsoft for comment and will update this story if they respond.
