Sony Settles Linux PlayStation 3 Lawsuit
A six-year legal battle between Sony and a group of lawyers in the United States has finally concluded, with the console maker agreeing to settle the litigation with a multi-million dollar payment. The lawsuit regards the removal of the ability to use the Linux operating system on the PlayStation 3 in 2010 through a firmware update. Sony originally removed the feature, which was advertised in marketing materials before the console’s release as feature to entice extra users, due to security concerns. While the company didn’t go into details about what exactly these concerns were, many assumed piracy was the main reason. The software update, known as 3.21, also prevented any other operating systems from being installed on the console. The settlement will see Sony pay some $2.25 million in legal fees and offer those who had used Linux on the PlayStation 3 compensation of $55. Other owners are entitled to $9 if they bought the console in part due to the advertised ability to install other operating systems. While the