GameStop Opening Deus Ex Boxes, Removing Free Game Coupon 343
DisKurzion writes "A leaked GameStop memo indicates that employees are to open the regular PC release of Deus Ex: Human Revolution and discard the included OnLive coupon. From the article: 'GameStop spokesperson Beth Sharum confirmed the practice, telling Ars that "Square Enix packed the competitor's coupon with our DXHR product without our prior knowledge and we did pull these coupons.'"
Tampering (Score:5, Insightful)
Cereal box (Score:5, Insightful)
This would be like my grocery store opening my cereal box to get the toy out so that I'm more likely to buy toys from the store.
Fucked. Up.
Re:You've got to be kidding... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Tampering (Score:5, Insightful)
Oh you can bet this will be quite actionable unless there is a contract agreement to the contrary.
Re:Tampering (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:You've got to be kidding... (Score:5, Insightful)
The coupon is not a necessary part of the game though. It's an extraneous addition. As I said, one would have a claim, but it's up to a jury/judge to decide if the coupon constitutes a substantial part of purchase interest.
Who gets to decide if the coupon is a "necessary" part of the game? If I was on the fence, and the manufacturer including coupons was what tipped the scales to me buying a new copy of the game, I would call that fairly necessary.
I suppose based on this "not a necessary part" logic; a bookseller could sell you a "new" book and "cut out" the last page.... it's not a "necessary part" of the book, just an extraneous addition; you can still read the book, you just don't get to read the epilogue, or maybe the ending, is all.