Not surprisingly, as reported here by the Legal Skills Prof Blog yesterday, Microsoft announced that it was revising all of its consumer contracts to add class action waivers. Consumers will be able to pursue low dollar value disputes individually in either small claims court or arbitration, but will not be able to aggregate them with other similarly situated consumers. Clearly fallout from AT&T Mobility, this anti-consumer contractual amendment allows consumer advocates to say “I told you so.”
They shouldn’t be allowed to included. Takes all onus off the producer.
On principal, I disagree with thses types of clauses being included in consumer contracts, but from a business standpoint including these clauses make good sense for Microsoft.