While Samsung's Blu-ray players have had their share of problems, things like compatibility issues have been resolved via firmware
updates. Apparently, these fixes aren't coming fast enough for some early adopters. Samsung has been served with a class action complaint, claiming that the company has knowingly been selling
"defective" Blu-ray players since June 2006.
Chimicles & Tikellis LLP, along with its co-counsel, filed a class action
complaint in the District Court for the District of New Jersey against Samsung Electronics America, Inc. (“Samsung”) on behalf of
consumers who purchased allegedly defective Blu-Ray DVD players. DVD players that play disks in Blu-Ray format, which refers to the
high-density storage of digital information, are high-end appliances that, when working properly, are supposed to provide more than five
times the storage capacity of traditional DVDs, according to the complaint. The complaint alleges that as a result of a design or
manufacturing defect, certain Blu-Ray DVD players made and sold by Samsung will not play numerous Blu-Ray disc titles. Samsung sold its
Blu-Ray DVD players without disclosing this material defect, and has failed to issue firmware updates or promptly take corrective action
to repair or replace the allegedly defective Blu-Ray disc players, according to the complaint.
The complaint seeks
monetary damages ($5 million) and other relief, including a court order forcing Samsung to repair and/or replace its allegedly defective
Blu-Ray DVD players. If you'd like to read more, the entire class action complaint can be found here.
