Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

New eBay EULA Prohibits Class Action Lawsuits

Posted by timothy on from the what-are-they-the-tsa? dept.

First time accepted submitter dangthill writes "On August 21, eBay updated its end-user agreement by adding a binding arbritration clause. By accepting the new agreement, users forfeit their right to join class action lawsuits and instead must submit to arbitration. However, users may opt-out by mailing eBay a signed notice. eBay joins Microsoft, Sony, Electronic Arts, Valve and other companies attempting to prevent class actions after the Supreme Court of the United States ruled such tactics valid."

5 of 234 comments (clear)

  1. Ah, the good old days... by fuzzyfuzzyfungus · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Does anybody else remember when kangaroo courts were something we associated with the commies?

    1. Re:Ah, the good old days... by Hatta · · Score: 5, Insightful

      1. Congress, and the US, have an interest in not clogging courts.

      The whole point of not clogging courts is so that people can have access to them. If you deny them access outright, what's the point of having a court system?

      If you have an issue with the law, talk to your Congresscritter.

      When money speaks louder than words, what good is that going to do? Why would my congressman piss off his numerous corporate donors and represent me instead?

      --
      Give me Classic Slashdot or give me death!
  2. Plague by Microlith · · Score: 4, Insightful

    I imagine it's already appearing on many more transitory agreements. Corporations now have an out, thanks to Scalia and his buddies, that protects them from the possibility that they'll ever get hit with a lawsuit big enough to actually threaten them. It puts each and every person that they fuck over out on their own and arbitration biases everything in their favor.

    I await the inclusion of anti-class action language in virtually all individual-facing contracts. It's virtually guaranteed to happen as there's no downside whatsoever for the corporations.

  3. Re:Class Action Everyone looses except for the law by AF_Cheddar_Head · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You might be right about only the lawyers winning but the consumer has already lost if it gets to class action. In a system with forced arbitration the Corporation never loses and never has an incentive to fix a problem, at least with a class-action suit the corporation stands some small chance of losing and may attempt to fix the problem.

  4. Re:Class Action Everyone looses except for the law by i+kan+reed · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Yes, but part of the point is the scummy company loses. Sometimes tort law isn't about recouping losses, but preventing unethical behavior in the first place. Frequently the classes of wronged people don't suffer much, but LOTS of people suffer. To me, it seems like a valid course for redress of grievances, and you shouldn't be legally allowed to sign away your rights.