A Brazilian court has ordered Microsoft to restore a gamer’s permanently suspended account along with all the digital Xbox games linked to it, marking a notable victory for digital consumer rights.
The case involved a player known online as Ordo_Liberal, whose Microsoft account was permanently suspended after an alleged hacking incident. According to the gamer, unauthorized access was detected despite two-factor authentication being enabled. Microsoft reportedly investigated the breach, updated the account’s security information, and permanently suspended the account to prevent further misuse.
The suspension also locked the gamer out of his entire digital Xbox library. The user claimed Microsoft support informed him that the account could not be recovered and advised him to create a new account and repurchase his games. Instead, he filed a consumer protection case in Brazil.
The court ruled in the gamer’s favor, giving Microsoft 15 days to restore access to the account and all associated digital purchases. If the company fails to comply, it faces a daily fine of 150 Brazilian reais, up to a maximum of 1,500 reais. The court also awarded the gamer 2,000 reais (around $400) in compensation.
The gamer pursued the case through Brazil’s consumer protection and small claims system without paying court fees or hiring a private lawyer.
The ruling has drawn attention to the growing debate over digital ownership, as gamers increasingly rely on digital purchases tied to online accounts. However, the decision applies only to this individual case in Brazil and does not establish a legal precedent for other countries or future disputes.
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