Two parents in Quebec, Canada have had enough with Epic Games and Fortnite. They now plan to start a class-action lawsuit against Epic Games and its Canadian counterpart. The reason for the lawsuit? They claim that their children are addicted to the game.
This is not the first time we have heard stories of Fortnite addictions. It is, however, the first time in Canada that a class action lawsuit is being started over it. Gaming addiction can be a real problem, but the question, ultimately, is where the blame lies. Is it on the parents to monitor their children’s gaming, or on the company that made the addicting game? That will be up to a judge to decide – if it gets that far, of course.
Lawyer compares gaming addiction to smoking
The boys had all the symptoms of severe dependence – addiction – (and) it caused severe stress in the families as well,” lawyer Alessandra Esposito Chartrand said of the firm’s clients. It’s the same legal basis (as the tobacco challenges) – the duty to inform about a dangerous product and responsibility of the manufacturer.
According to CityNews, the Montreal-based law firm Calex Legal will be trying to sue Epic Games. They are representing two separate parents whose 10- and 15-year-old sons have allegedly become dependant on Fortnite. According to court papers filed, the 10-year-old has been playing Fortnite since December 2018 and has played approximately 1800 Fortnite games. He is said to become frustrated when his playtime is cut short by his parents.
The same story goes for the 15-year-old, though he has played more than 7,700 games since October 2017. He plays Fortnite three hours per day. His “addiction” to the game has been this way for the past two years, the filing states. These two parents ultimately want to hold Epic Games accountable for the addiction seen in their children and many others.
This suit would only cover addicted players in that province since October 2017. If compensation is awarded, the amount would be determined in court. Could this set the ball rolling for other class action suits across Canada and North America? We will have to wait and see.
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