The Quebec Court of Appeal denied Epic Games’ request to end the class action lawsuit against it. Parents of underage children criticize him for being heavily addicted to Fortnite, his online video game.
On February 24, 2023, Quebec Court of Appeal Judge Guy Cournoyer denied Epic Games’ request to drop a class action lawsuit against her and her game Fortnite Battle Royale.
The company, which has operated the Montreal studio since 2018, has yet to say whether it intends to appeal to the Supreme Court of Canada. If not, the class action will proceed.
See also: At what age can you play Fortnite Battle Royale?
Create a dependency?
The original petition was filed in 2019 through the law firm Calex Legal.
On December 7, 2022, Judge Sylvain Lussier of the Supreme Court of Quebec authorized a class action lawsuit against this online game, which the lawsuit alleges can cause an addiction similar to heroin or cocaine addiction.
In his motion, lawyer Jean-Philippe Caron refers to video game disorder, a disease recognized since 2018 in the latest version of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DMS-5) of the World Health Organization (WHO). It is, as the WHO describes it, “behavior associated with the practice of video games or digital games characterized by loss of control over the game, increased priority given to the game to the point that it takes precedence over others.” and daily activities, as well as the continuation or escalation of gambling, despite the harmful consequences. »
The legal documents state that the three children featured in the lawsuit have “Fortnite addiction symptoms that are both physical and psychological and include migraines, back and neck pain, basic hygiene problems, sleep disturbances, and severe social disturbances. Some players have reportedly experienced issues such as refusing to eat, shower, or socialize. »
Plus, one in three kids would gulp down $6,000 to buy V-Bucks, virtual money that lets you add a whole series of accessories and expand the game’s combat options.
Who can join?
A class action lawsuit has been resolved on behalf of all individuals residing in Quebec who have developed a Fortnite addiction since September 1, 2017. These persons may receive compensation for psychological and physical damage at the end of the proceedings.
The class action also includes a second component, which seeks reimbursement of expenses incurred by minors to acquire virtual currency (V-Bucks), as well as damages.
If you would like to be informed about ongoing procedures, you can fill out a form on the Calex Legal website.
worldwide success
Fortnite, available for free online since 2017, allows hundreds of players to interact at the same time in an increasingly narrow virtual arena where the number of players decreases as the game progresses.
In 2021, Fortnite attracted more than 83 million players per month worldwide, according to BusinessofApps, a total of 400 million gamers. That same year, the game generated US$5.4 billion in revenue, the highest ever, according to the latest data available.
See also: How to help a teenager break away from the screen?