Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Category:Airpods

2025-08-16T14:46:33Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: Created blank page

AirPods

2025-08-16T14:43:10Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: Remove 2 template boxes, fix citation, category : airpods

{{StubNotice}}{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = AirPods
| Release Year = 2016-12-13
| Product Type = Wireless earbuds
| In Production = Yes
| Official Website = https://apple.com/airpods
| Logo = AirPods logo.png
}}AirPods are wireless earbuds designed by [[Apple]]. They first debuted on September 07, 2016, alongside the iPhone 7, and were released on December 13, 2016.

In addition to playing audio, the AirPods contain a microphone that filters out background noise as well as built-in accelerometers and optical sensors capable of detecting taps and pinches (e.g. double-tap or pinch to pause audio) and placement within the ear, which enables automatic pausing of audio when they are taken out of the ear.

On March 20, 2019, Apple released the second-generation AirPods, which feature the H1 chip, longer talk time, and hands-free "Hey Siri" support. A higher-end version includes a charging case that supports Qi charging.

On October 26, 2021, Apple released the third-generation AirPods, which feature an external redesign with shorter stems similar to AirPods Pro, spatial audio, IPX4 water resistance, longer battery life, and MagSafe charging capability.

On September 9, 2024, Apple announced the AirPods 4, which feature the H2 chip, Bluetooth 5.3, and a USB-C charging case. A higher end model features active noise cancellation and a charging case that supports Qi and Apple Watch chargers.
==Consumer impact summary==
AirPods are designed to be unrepairable even by Apple, leading to them ending up as e-waste after a few years of use. The replacement of the lithium-ion batteries used by the AirPods requires the destruction of the outer casing, adding to the waste problem. Up until September 22, 2023, Apple used their proprietary Lightning connector on the AirPods' charging case.

The lithium-ion batteries in AirPods can see significant degradation over time, with two-year-old sets lasting for less than half of the advertised five hours. Apple has a program to service batteries and purchase replacement individual AirPods and charging cases. The replacement of one or both AirPods or the charging case has a lower price with AppleCare+ than without. Apple offers battery servicing for free with AppleCare+ and for a fee without. However, this is just a replacement service, as AirPods cannot be repaired without destroying their outer case, resulting in a 0/10 repairability score
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the conduct towards users of products part of the product line.

Touch on relevant topics like:
* User Freedom
* User Privacy
* Business Model
* Market Control}}

==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product line. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].
{{Placeholder box|Replace the placeholder text in the sections below with the incidents that affect this product line and a short summary. Also replace the link so it point to the right company article.}}

===Example incident one (''date'')===
{{Main|link to the main article}}Short summary of the incident (could be the same as the summary preceding the article).

===Example incident two (''date'')===
...

Incidents affecting all of the company's products can be found in the company article: [[Company article]]

==Products==

*AirPods (1st generation) (December 13, 2016<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2 March 2025 |title=Every Apple AirPods Generation: A Full History of Release Dates - IGN |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/all-apple-airpods-release-dates-in-order |website=IGN}}</ref>)
*AirPods (2nd generation) (March 20, 2019<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods Pro (1st generation) (October 30, 2019<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods Max (December 15, 2020<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods (3rd generation) (October 26, 2021<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods Pro 2 (previously 2nd generation) (September 23, 2022<ref name=":0" />)
*AirPods 4/ANC (September 20, 2024<ref name=":0" />)
==See also==
{{Placeholder box|Link to relevant theme articles or product lines with similar incidents.}}

*[[Apple]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:Airpods]]

AirAsia

2025-08-16T13:51:39Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: Add NYT citation

{{Incomplete}}{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = AirAsia
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1993
| Industry = Airline
| Official Website = https://airasia.com/
| Logo = AirAsia.webp
}}
[[wikipedia:AirAsia|'''AirAsia''']] is a budget airline based in Malaysia. In 2007, The New York Times described AirAsia as a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kurlantzick |first=Joshua |title=Does Low Cost Mean High Risk? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/23/travel/23prac.html |url-status=live |access-date=2025-08-16 |work=The New York Times}}</ref> As of January 2025, they serve Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.

==Anti-consumer practices==
AirAsia secretly and forcefully subscribes any user who creates or links an account with them to 23 different types of {{Wplink|Spamming|spam}} ("AirAsia communications").

#Users are neither made aware of this fact nor presented with the option to opt out.
#Normally companies bury opt-in text within their [[terms and conditions]], but even the AirAsia privacy terms page is vague about this.
#Unsubscribing from AirAsia's spam is an 8-step process where users have to log into their account.

===Non-consensual opt-in to AirAsia marketing spam===
[[File:Airasia signup page 1.png|thumb|AirAsia sign up dialog that pops up after you select a flight to book. Multiple sign up/easy sign in options are pushed with large, colored icons while the no sign up option is presented as "Continue as guest" in small plain text at the bottom.]]
[[File:Airasia signup page.png|thumb|AirAsia sign up page with no notification to users that they will be automatically opted in to receiving "informational" and marketing emails from 23 different AirAsia sources with no ability for users to opt out directly at sign up.]]
[[File:Airasia spam unsubscribe step 2.PNG.png|thumb|AirAsia Notification Preferences page showing 23 different sources of promotional emails that every user is automatically opted into upon creation of an AirAsia account.]]
AirAsia secretly and automatically forces users to opt in to 23 different types of promotional and marketing emails (referred to as "communications") when they create or link an account.

#When booking a flight with AirAsia, a popup dialog appears that pushes users to sign in, or create or link an account. The sign-up and and sign-in options are pushed with large font sizes and prominent, colored icons.
#The option to book a flight is presented as a small, plain-text link "Continue as guest" at the bottom of the popup dialog. (SEE IMAGE 1)[[File:Airasia spam unsubscribe step 1.png|thumb|Clicking on an unsubscribe link in an email brings users to this page. AirAsia forces users to log in before they can unsubscribe. ]]
#During sign-up or log-in, users are not made aware that they will automatically be opted in to receiving spam "communication" emails from AirAsia. They are also forced into opting in by default, with no ability to opt out directly on the same page.
#Typically companies sneak promotional and marketing email opt in into their [[terms of service]] or Privacy Terms page, but on the AirAsia Privacy Statement page,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=AirAsia's Privacy Statement |url=https://www.airasia.com/aa/about-us/en/gb/privacy-statement.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/jfXwj |archive-date=2025-01-30}}</ref> they are still extremely vague about the fact they are opting users into their spam, automatically, forcefully, and unknowingly. The terms therein that refer to promotional material are:
##"The information may be used to provide you with location-based services such as search results and '''marketing content'''." ("Information collection" section<ref name=":0" />)
##"AirAsia and AirAsia Group of Companies who have access to this Personal Information with our permission and who need to know or have access to this Personal Information in order to: perform the service requested by you (including to make, administer, and manage reservations or handle payments, '''"single sign-on,"''' and customer service); analyze how you use this Website and other websites belonging to AirAsia or AirAsia Group of Companies, improve and '''provide new and personalized offers, products and services, and marketing, for purposes of research, analytics, to develop and improve any existing and future products or services offered by us''', to explore further potential initiatives, to optimise research, improve our forecasting abilities, and for other business purposes of AirAsia or AirAsia Group of Companies; detect, prevent, and investigate fraudulent transactions and/or activities, other illegal activities, and data breaches; internal (audit/compliance) investigations; or as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law." ("Use of information collected" section<ref name=":0" />)
##'''We may share your Personal Information to: data analytics, marketing agency, third party suppliers of products and services, business partners or service providers, parties which have business or contractual dealings with AirAsia and the AirAsia Group of Companies''', and other third party who is able to demonstrate that you have explicitly consented to the disclosure of your Personal Information by us to such third party (collectively known as “Authorised Third Party”) ("Sharing of Information Collected" section<ref name=":0" />)
#The same Privacy Statement does provide steps to "Manage your marketing communications,"<ref name=":0" /> which is a 3-step process assuming the user does this after creating their account and/or booking their flight. The steps highlighted on that page are:
##Click on Account (your name with the user icon in the upper right side of the page)
##Click on My Account
##Click on Notifications Preferences
#However, since users are not made aware that they will be opted into a barrage of spam emails, they would not be aware or have reason to go into "Notification Preferences" immediately after account creation/booking.
#Since most users will learn about the spam later, the unsubscribe process is in reality an 8-step process that takes eight clicks instead of the three suggested by AirAsia's Privacy Statement page (see below).

===Multi-step friction to unsubscribe from AirAsia marketing spam===
Since most users will learn about the spam later, the unsubscribe process is in reality an 8-step process that takes eight clicks and user login, instead of the three suggested by AirAsia's Privacy Statement page:
#User clicks on unsubscribe button at bottom of AirAsia promotional email.
#Instead of directly unsubscribing the user or bringing them to an unsubscribe confirmation page, users are instead linked to their account "Notification Preferences" page where they have to log in.
#After entering their log-in details, users have to also input a [[one-time password]] (OTP). This step takes at least five additional clicks, where the user has to:
##Click on their email tab or client (assuming they have it opened)
##Click on the AirAsia OTP email (if they do not receive it immediately, refreshing may incur additional clicks)
##Copy or remember the OTP, and click back to the AirAsia login tab
##Paste the OTP into the form
##Click continue
#User is now on their Notification Preferences page where they get to see the 23 different types of AirAsia spam they never knew they opted into. Assuming they never wanted and don't want to continue receiving any of these spam emails, they would click on "Pause all emails".
#User also has to click on "Pause all communications" if they wanted to stop spam from coming in through push notifications and WhatsApp.
##Another [[dark pattern]] here from AirAsia is "Pause all communications," which implies the user would stop receiving any communications whatsoever. Users would typically want their booking emails, travel itinerary, etc., so they would not think of selecting this option.
##The fine print above this button says, "Your account activities, transactional updates, payment updates, booking and delivery information are compulsory," meaning such emails will be delivered in any case and "communications" in "Pause all communications" really refers to promotional and marketing spam.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:AirAsia]]

AirAsia

2025-08-16T13:44:56Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: fix citation 1

{{Incomplete}}{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = AirAsia
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1993
| Industry = Airline
| Official Website = https://airasia.com/
| Logo = AirAsia.webp
}}
[[wikipedia:AirAsia|'''AirAsia''']] is a budget airline based in Malaysia. In 2007, The New York Times described AirAsia as a pioneer of low-cost travel in Asia. As of January 2025, they serve Asia, the Middle East, and Australia.

==Anti-consumer practices==
AirAsia secretly and forcefully subscribes any user who creates or links an account with them to 23 different types of {{Wplink|Spamming|spam}} ("AirAsia communications").

#Users are neither made aware of this fact nor presented with the option to opt out.
#Normally companies bury opt-in text within their [[terms and conditions]], but even the AirAsia privacy terms page is vague about this.
#Unsubscribing from AirAsia's spam is an 8-step process where users have to log into their account.

===Non-consensual opt-in to AirAsia marketing spam===
[[File:Airasia signup page 1.png|thumb|AirAsia sign up dialog that pops up after you select a flight to book. Multiple sign up/easy sign in options are pushed with large, colored icons while the no sign up option is presented as "Continue as guest" in small plain text at the bottom.]]
[[File:Airasia signup page.png|thumb|AirAsia sign up page with no notification to users that they will be automatically opted in to receiving "informational" and marketing emails from 23 different AirAsia sources with no ability for users to opt out directly at sign up.]]
[[File:Airasia spam unsubscribe step 2.PNG.png|thumb|AirAsia Notification Preferences page showing 23 different sources of promotional emails that every user is automatically opted into upon creation of an AirAsia account.]]
AirAsia secretly and automatically forces users to opt in to 23 different types of promotional and marketing emails (referred to as "communications") when they create or link an account.

#When booking a flight with AirAsia, a popup dialog appears that pushes users to sign in, or create or link an account. The sign-up and and sign-in options are pushed with large font sizes and prominent, colored icons.
#The option to book a flight is presented as a small, plain-text link "Continue as guest" at the bottom of the popup dialog. (SEE IMAGE 1)[[File:Airasia spam unsubscribe step 1.png|thumb|Clicking on an unsubscribe link in an email brings users to this page. AirAsia forces users to log in before they can unsubscribe. ]]
#During sign-up or log-in, users are not made aware that they will automatically be opted in to receiving spam "communication" emails from AirAsia. They are also forced into opting in by default, with no ability to opt out directly on the same page.
#Typically companies sneak promotional and marketing email opt in into their [[terms of service]] or Privacy Terms page, but on the AirAsia Privacy Statement page,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=AirAsia's Privacy Statement |url=https://www.airasia.com/aa/about-us/en/gb/privacy-statement.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.is/jfXwj |archive-date=2025-01-30}}</ref> they are still extremely vague about the fact they are opting users into their spam, automatically, forcefully, and unknowingly. The terms therein that refer to promotional material are:
##"The information may be used to provide you with location-based services such as search results and '''marketing content'''." ("Information collection" section<ref name=":0" />)
##"AirAsia and AirAsia Group of Companies who have access to this Personal Information with our permission and who need to know or have access to this Personal Information in order to: perform the service requested by you (including to make, administer, and manage reservations or handle payments, '''"single sign-on,"''' and customer service); analyze how you use this Website and other websites belonging to AirAsia or AirAsia Group of Companies, improve and '''provide new and personalized offers, products and services, and marketing, for purposes of research, analytics, to develop and improve any existing and future products or services offered by us''', to explore further potential initiatives, to optimise research, improve our forecasting abilities, and for other business purposes of AirAsia or AirAsia Group of Companies; detect, prevent, and investigate fraudulent transactions and/or activities, other illegal activities, and data breaches; internal (audit/compliance) investigations; or as otherwise required or permitted by applicable law." ("Use of information collected" section<ref name=":0" />)
##'''We may share your Personal Information to: data analytics, marketing agency, third party suppliers of products and services, business partners or service providers, parties which have business or contractual dealings with AirAsia and the AirAsia Group of Companies''', and other third party who is able to demonstrate that you have explicitly consented to the disclosure of your Personal Information by us to such third party (collectively known as “Authorised Third Party”) ("Sharing of Information Collected" section<ref name=":0" />)
#The same Privacy Statement does provide steps to "Manage your marketing communications,"<ref name=":0" /> which is a 3-step process assuming the user does this after creating their account and/or booking their flight. The steps highlighted on that page are:
##Click on Account (your name with the user icon in the upper right side of the page)
##Click on My Account
##Click on Notifications Preferences
#However, since users are not made aware that they will be opted into a barrage of spam emails, they would not be aware or have reason to go into "Notification Preferences" immediately after account creation/booking.
#Since most users will learn about the spam later, the unsubscribe process is in reality an 8-step process that takes eight clicks instead of the three suggested by AirAsia's Privacy Statement page (see below).

===Multi-step friction to unsubscribe from AirAsia marketing spam===
Since most users will learn about the spam later, the unsubscribe process is in reality an 8-step process that takes eight clicks and user login, instead of the three suggested by AirAsia's Privacy Statement page:
#User clicks on unsubscribe button at bottom of AirAsia promotional email.
#Instead of directly unsubscribing the user or bringing them to an unsubscribe confirmation page, users are instead linked to their account "Notification Preferences" page where they have to log in.
#After entering their log-in details, users have to also input a [[one-time password]] (OTP). This step takes at least five additional clicks, where the user has to:
##Click on their email tab or client (assuming they have it opened)
##Click on the AirAsia OTP email (if they do not receive it immediately, refreshing may incur additional clicks)
##Copy or remember the OTP, and click back to the AirAsia login tab
##Paste the OTP into the form
##Click continue
#User is now on their Notification Preferences page where they get to see the 23 different types of AirAsia spam they never knew they opted into. Assuming they never wanted and don't want to continue receiving any of these spam emails, they would click on "Pause all emails".
#User also has to click on "Pause all communications" if they wanted to stop spam from coming in through push notifications and WhatsApp.
##Another [[dark pattern]] here from AirAsia is "Pause all communications," which implies the user would stop receiving any communications whatsoever. Users would typically want their booking emails, travel itinerary, etc., so they would not think of selecting this option.
##The fine print above this button says, "Your account activities, transactional updates, payment updates, booking and delivery information are compulsory," meaning such emails will be delivered in any case and "communications" in "Pause all communications" really refers to promotional and marketing spam.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:AirAsia]]

Dead star server shutdown

2025-08-16T13:19:06Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: Category: dead star

{{StubNotice}}

{{IncidentCargo
|Company=Armature Studio
|Product=Dead Star
|ArticleType=Product
|Description=Online video game Dead Star shut down it's servers, leaving the tutorial as the only accessible content in the game.
}}Dead Star is an PVP multiplayer space combat shooter developed and published by Armature studios. The game released on April 5th, 2016 on Playstation 4 and steam. On October 18, 2016, Armature studios announced that online functionality for Dead Star will cease November 1st, 2016<ref>{{Cite web |date=18 Oct 2016 |title=important notice |url=https://deadstargame.com/important-notice/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021154611/http://deadstargame.com/important-notice/ |archive-date=21 Oct 2016 |access-date=18 Oct 2016 |website=[[Dead Star Game]]}}</ref>. As the games content is primarily online only, the only accessible content after the shutdown is the games tutorial.

==Background==
{{Ph-I-B}}

==[Incident]==
{{Ph-I-I}}

===[Company]'s response===
{{Ph-I-ComR}}

==Lawsuit==
{{Ph-I-L}}

==Consumer response==
{{Ph-I-ConR}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Dead Star]]

Nintendo Switch Online

2025-08-16T13:15:46Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: +stub & category: Nintendo Switch Online

{{Stub}}

Nintendo Switch Online (or NSO for short), is a paid online gaming subscription service for the [[Nintendo Switch]] and [[Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch 2]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Switch Online — Overview |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Nintendo-Switch-Online/Nintendo-Switch-Online-Overview-1183143.html}}</ref> similar to [[PlayStation Network]] on the [[PlayStation]] consoles and [[Xbox Live]] on [[Xbox]] consoles.

This subscription is required to access online modes in most games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What online games can you play without switch online? |url=https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/wiki/what-online-games-can-you-play-without-switch-online/}}</ref>

Additional Services include online save data backup, access to games from older Nintendo consoles, such as NES, SNES and Game Boy, and more.<ref name=":0" />

Some users have been banned from all online services, including Nintendo Switch Online after hacking their consoles.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Petite |first=Steven |date=May 22, 2018 |title=Nintendo starts banning Switch hackers from online services |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/nintendo-starts-banning-switch-hackers/ |access-date=August 16, 2025 |work=digitaltrends}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Doolan |first=Liam |date=June 17, 2025 |title=Nintendo Reportedly Banning Switch 2's Using MIG Cartridges |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/nintendo-reportedly-banning-switch-2s-using-mig-cartridges?s=09 |work=Nintendo Life}}</ref>
<references />
[[Category:Subscription-based services]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch Online]]

DAZN

2025-08-16T13:02:11Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: category: subscription based services & fix citation archive date

{{Incomplete}}{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = DAZN
| Type = Subsidiary
| Founded = 2007
| Industry = internet television, sports broadcasting
| Official Website = https://www.dazn.com
| Logo = DAZN Logo Master.svg
}}
[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DAZN '''DAZN'''] is a British-owned entertainment platform for sports broadcasting and streaming. The platform launched in 2015 and streams live and on-demand sport to over 200 countries worldwide. The service has 20 million paying subscribers as of 2023.

==Anti-consumer practices==

===Cancellation difficulties and forced arbitration===
DAZN proposes that you can both sign up and cancel your subscription to streaming services at any time. Members will find, however, that once the 30-day trial has ended, they are locked into a subscription service, credit-card information was required when signing up for services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=DAZN Makes Canceling Difficult |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/Boxing/comments/1e3jt8w/dazn_makes_canceling_difficult/ |url-status=live |access-date=17 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=28 Dec 2020 |title=Dazn won't let me cancel |url=https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/dazn-wont-let-me-cancel.524423/ |url-status=live |access-date=17 Mar 2025 |website=[[AZBilliards Forum]]}}</ref> The [[terms of service]] of DAZN contain a [[forced arbitration]] agreement wherein by subscribing you waive all rights to any compensation by any [[Class action lawsuit|class-action lawsuit]]. (See lines '''17. Mandatory Individual Arbitration''').<ref>{{Cite web |title=Terms of Use |url=https://help.dazn.com/hc/en-us/articles/16391473315101-Terms-of-Use |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815150309/https://help.dazn.com/hc/en-us/articles/16391473315101-Terms-of-Use |archive-date=15 Aug 2024 |access-date=17 Mar 2025 |website=[[DAZN]]}}</ref>

Signing up for the service is a short process. Trying to unsubscribe from the service requires you to talk to an in-house agent. These agents appear to never be available. The only recourse a customer has to prevent monthly charges from DAZN is to cancel all charges being put on the account from that vendor.

===Unwanted automatic rebilling and price increases===
In 2023, DAZN offered a "NFL Game Pass" outside of the US in countries like Germany, where you could pay around $45 a month to watch the rest of the season games. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Internet Archive DAZN NFL Game Pass site from October 2023 |url=https://www.dazn.com/de-DE/l/nfl-game-pass/ |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231023140651/https://www.dazn.com/de-DE/l/nfl-game-pass/ |archive-date=2023-10-23}}</ref> The advertisement clearly states that the charges that you incur will be "per month for 4 months". The season pass subscription however does not terminate after the season is over. Unless actively cancelled, it silently renews in the following year for the exact same price, often leading to consumers incurring unexpected charges on their credit cards about a year later.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Trustpilot-Review about unwanted rebilling around the start of the new NFL season through a prior NFL game pass |url=https://de.trustpilot.com/reviews/66ac04dcf1f18786079050ae |website=Trustpilot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Further customer reviews on Trustpilot about unwanted rebilling around August for their Game Pass |url=https://de.trustpilot.com/reviews/66ab3ce1b4f51e5e415cff7b |website=Trustpilot}}</ref> This correlates with an influx of negative reviews around the start of the new NFL season in August on websites like Trustpilot.

Reddit-Users also have complained about their cancelled free-trial subscriptions being bumped up to full season pass subscriptions and being charged more than $200 for a season pass they never ordered.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Reddit-Thread about NFL gamepass transition |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/dazn_ca/comments/15f9k2o/nfl_gamepass_transition_this_cant_be_legal/}}</ref> Furthermore, users on Trustpilot also noted that the usual 179€ price tag for a yearly subscription was switched to a monthly 40€ subscription without prior notice.<ref>{{Cite web |title=German Trustpilot review complaining about increased subscription prices |url=https://de.trustpilot.com/reviews/66ab3ce1b4f51e5e415cff7b |website=Trustpilot}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=User comment on Trustpilot about the increase in price and switch to a monthly subscription model |url=https://de.trustpilot.com/reviews/67fed1a985794b537b4ad9f5 |website=Trustpilot}}</ref> This constitutes a 100€ price increase over the previously incurred costs.

==See also==

*[[Forced arbitration]]
*[[Click-to-cancel]]

==References==
<references />
[[Category:DAZN]]
[[Category:Subscription-based services]]

3CX

2025-08-16T12:49:05Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: Fix Citation 2

{{StubNotice}}
3CX, Inc., is a software development company and developer of the 3CX Phone System<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=3CX |title=ENTERPRISE GRADE PHONE SYSTEM |url=https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813032918/https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-date=2025-08-12 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=3cx.com}}</ref>.

The 3CX Phone System is a software private branch exchange based on the [[wikipedia:Session_Initiation_Protocol|Session Initiation Protocol]] (SIP) standard to allow calls via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or via [[wikipedia:Voice_over_IP|Voice over Internet Protocol]] (VoIP) services <ref name=":0" />.

In 2023, during a major supply chain attack affecting the 3CX desktop application, company's public response included engaging the services of Google-owned cybersecurity firm [[wikipedia:Mandiant|Mandiant]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakshmanan |first=Ravie |date=Mar 31, 2023 |title=3CX Supply Chain Attack — Here's What We Know So Far |url=https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250627055223/https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-date=June 27, 2025 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=thehackernews.com}}</ref> and advising customers to uninstall affected versions.

==Controversies==

====Customer and Partner Relations====
The company's CTO, Nick Galea, has been the subject of criticism from some 3CX users and partners for alleged heavy-handed moderation practices and perceived unprofessional conduct in public forums. Multiple users on Reddit have reported being banned from the official 3CX community forums for raising technical concerns or criticizing company policies. <ref>{{Cite web |title=My 3CX Partnership Deleted and All Linked Clients Lost |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xev0u5/my_3cx_partnership_deleted_and_all_linked_clients/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Banned from the 3CX Community |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xn0ztp/banned_from_the_3cx_community/}}</ref>

====Supply Chain Incident Response====
In March 2023, 3CX was the victim of a high-profile supply chain attack, thought to be the result of a cascade failure starting with the software X_Trader. This attack was likely caused by North Korean state-sponsored hackers. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Andy |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=The Huge 3CX Breach Was Actually 2 Linked Supply Chain Attacks |url=https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250726115243/https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-date=July 26, 2025 |work=Wired |pages=2025-08-12}}</ref>

3CX also faced backlash for requiring users to pay to open support tickets during the breach, which led to further public criticism from system administrators and IT professionals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CrowdStrike |date=2023-03-29 |title=// 2023-03-29 // SITUATIONAL AWARENESS // CrowdStrike Tracking Active Intrusion Campaign Targeting 3CX Customers // |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/crowdstrike/comments/125r3uu/20230329_situational_awareness_crowdstrike/ |website=reddit}}</ref><blockquote>"I have been in contact with 3CX and their suggestion is to open a support ticket at £75 per incident. Ludicrous." -wars_t (reddit.com) </blockquote>

==References:==
<references />
[[Category:Companies]]

4k Video Downloader+

2025-08-16T12:39:24Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: Category: products

{{Stub}}


<div class="infobox">
<div class="infobox-title">{{PAGENAME}}</div>
<div class="infobox-image">[[File:Videodownloaderplus.svg|200px]] </div> <table class="infobox-table"><tr><th>Release Year</th><td>2018</td></tr><tr><th>Product Type</th><td>Software</td></tr><tr><th>In Production</th><td>Yes</td></tr><tr><th>Company Name</th><td>Interpromo GMBH</td></tr><tr><th>Prior Company Name</th><td>Open Media OOO</td></tr>
<tr>
<th>Official Website</th>
<td>[https://www.4kdownload.com/products/videodownloader-42 4KDownload.com]</td>
</tr></table>
</div>

'''4k Video Downloader+''' is a program created by [https://interpromo.co/ InterPromo GMBH] used to download videos from YouTube and other video sources.
==Consumer impact summary==
Consumers who purchased a lifetime license of "4K Video Downloader" will no longer receive additional software updates<ref name="4KVD">[[:File:4K VD no new features.png|4KVideoDownloader FAQ: No New Features]]</ref> as the application is being phased out in favor of the newer "4K Video Downloader+".

==Company rebranding==
The earlier version "4K Video Downloader" is branded in the "About" menu as "Copyright 2025 Open Media OOO." The latest version "4K Video Downloader+" is branded as "Copyright 2025 InterPromo GMBH". It's not clear at this time if an acquisition was a precursor for the re-release of the program.

==Code review and versioning==
A cursory review of the libraries and files<ref name="4KDL">[[:File:4K DL vs 4K DL Plus Ophaned (New) Files.png|4K DL Update Comparison]]</ref> from both applications shows that "4K Video Downloader+" has only six new files not existing in the prior version. See screenshot. Also,about 27 files were eliminated/not included in the new version.

Despite having been released relatively recently, the "4K Video Downloader+" .exe file shows it is version "25.0.0.182", which may suggest it is a continuation of the prior version.
==Incidents==
This is a list of all consumer protection incidents related to this product. Any incidents not mentioned here can be found in the [[:Category:{{PAGENAME}}|{{PAGENAME}} category]].

===Discontinuation of lifetime license (''2023'')===
{{Main|link to the main article}}
The developer sells Lifetime License of 4k Video Downloader since 2012<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|title=4k Video Downloader|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120723220906/http://www.4kdownload.com/products/product-videodownloader|archive-date=2012-07-23|url-status=dead}}</ref>, but discontinues it to sell 4k Video Downloader+ since July 26, 2023. The old license key is not valid because it's a "different program".<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|title=4K Video Downloader Plus FAQ: Your Questions, Our Answers|date=2023-07-26|author=Klara|access-date=2025-04-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250124025437/https://www.4kdownload.com/blog/2023/07/26/4k-video-downloader-faq/|archive-date=2025-01-24|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Questions Regarding the Company's Explanation for a new Version==
According to the company's FAQ<ref name=":0" />, the reason for the new version is "the outdated technology stack" is impossible to fix.

While the company (InterPromo GMBH, the current company name used on the footer of the website) claims that updating the original 4K Video Downloader was "impossible" due to an outdated technology stack, this explanation lacks technical detail and may oversimplify the issue. In software development, very few features are truly impossible to implement—more often, they are deprioritized due to cost, complexity, or strategic business decisions. Without transparency about the specific limitations, it's reasonable to question whether the shift to a new app was driven more by monetization goals than technical necessity.

Additionally, a stack update (libraries, frameworks, etc.) would typically include minor UI/UX changes because of the underlying changes. Based on the visual appearance and menu behaviors of both applications, it's not clear a large-scale rewrite was performed, the applications are visually identical.

==References==
{{reflist}}
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Products]]

3CX

2025-08-16T12:36:36Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: Category: companies

{{StubNotice}}
3CX, Inc., is a software development company and developer of the 3CX Phone System<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=3CX |title=ENTERPRISE GRADE PHONE SYSTEM |url=https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250813032918/https://www.3cx.com/phone-system/ |archive-date=2025-08-12 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=3cx.com}}</ref>.

The 3CX Phone System is a software private branch exchange based on the [[wikipedia:Session_Initiation_Protocol|Session Initiation Protocol]] (SIP) standard to allow calls via the public switched telephone network (PSTN) or via [[wikipedia:Voice_over_IP|Voice over Internet Protocol]] (VoIP) services <ref name=":0" />.

In 2023, during a major supply chain attack affecting the 3CX desktop application, company's public response included engaging the services of Google-owned cybersecurity firm [[wikipedia:Mandiant|Mandiant]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakshmanan |first=Ravie |date=Mar 31, 2023 |title=3CX Supply Chain Attack — Here's What We Know So Far |url=https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-url=https://thehackernews.com/2023/03/3cx-supply-chain-attack-heres-what-we.html |archive-date=June 27, 2025 |access-date=2025-08-12 |website=hehackernews.com}}</ref> and advising customers to uninstall affected versions.

==Controversies==

====Customer and Partner Relations====
The company's CTO, Nick Galea, has been the subject of criticism from some 3CX users and partners for alleged heavy-handed moderation practices and perceived unprofessional conduct in public forums. Multiple users on Reddit have reported being banned from the official 3CX community forums for raising technical concerns or criticizing company policies. <ref>{{Cite web |title=My 3CX Partnership Deleted and All Linked Clients Lost |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xev0u5/my_3cx_partnership_deleted_and_all_linked_clients/}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Banned from the 3CX Community |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/3CX/comments/xn0ztp/banned_from_the_3cx_community/}}</ref>

====Supply Chain Incident Response====
In March 2023, 3CX was the victim of a high-profile supply chain attack, thought to be the result of a cascade failure starting with the software X_Trader. This attack was likely caused by North Korean state-sponsored hackers. <ref>{{Cite news |last=Greenberg |first=Andy |date=Apr 20, 2023 |title=The Huge 3CX Breach Was Actually 2 Linked Supply Chain Attacks |url=https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250726115243/https://www.wired.com/story/3cx-supply-chain-attack-times-two/ |archive-date=July 26, 2025 |work=Wired |pages=2025-08-12}}</ref>

3CX also faced backlash for requiring users to pay to open support tickets during the breach, which led to further public criticism from system administrators and IT professionals.<ref>{{Cite web |last=CrowdStrike |date=2023-03-29 |title=// 2023-03-29 // SITUATIONAL AWARENESS // CrowdStrike Tracking Active Intrusion Campaign Targeting 3CX Customers // |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/crowdstrike/comments/125r3uu/20230329_situational_awareness_crowdstrike/ |website=reddit}}</ref><blockquote>"I have been in contact with 3CX and their suggestion is to open a support ticket at £75 per incident. Ludicrous." -wars_t (reddit.com) </blockquote>

==References:==
<references />
[[Category:Companies]]

Nintendo Switch Online

2025-08-16T12:22:32Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: Category: subscription services

Nintendo Switch Online (or NSO for short), is a paid online gaming subscription service for the [[Nintendo Switch]] and [[Nintendo Switch|Nintendo Switch 2]],<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Switch Online — Overview |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Nintendo-Switch-Online/Nintendo-Switch-Online-Overview-1183143.html}}</ref> similar to [[PlayStation Network]] on the [[PlayStation]] consoles and [[Xbox Live]] on [[Xbox]] consoles.

This subscription is required to access online modes in most games.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What online games can you play without switch online? |url=https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/wiki/what-online-games-can-you-play-without-switch-online/}}</ref>

Additional Services include online save data backup, access to games from older Nintendo consoles, such as NES, SNES and Game Boy, and more.<ref name=":0" />

Some users have been banned from all online services, including Nintendo Switch Online after hacking their consoles.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Petite |first=Steven |date=May 22, 2018 |title=Nintendo starts banning Switch hackers from online services |url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/nintendo-starts-banning-switch-hackers/ |access-date=August 16, 2025 |work=digitaltrends}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Doolan |first=Liam |date=June 17, 2025 |title=Nintendo Reportedly Banning Switch 2's Using MIG Cartridges |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2025/06/nintendo-reportedly-banning-switch-2s-using-mig-cartridges?s=09 |work=Nintendo Life}}</ref>
<references />
[[Category:Subscription-based services]]

Nintendo Switch Online

2025-08-16T12:16:45Z

2001:4BC9:1F99:A7C7:FC0A:DDFF:FE00:27C5: Created page with "Nintendo Switch Online (or NSO for short), is a paid online gaming subscription service for the Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Nintendo Switch Online — Overview |url=https://www.nintendo.com/en-gb/Nintendo-Switch-Online/Nintendo-Switch-Online-Overview-1183143.html}}</ref> similar to PlayStation Network on the PlayStation consoles and Xbox Live on Xbox consoles. This subscription is require..."