[Chris]

When Sony released the firmware upgrade that removed the ability to install an alternate operating system, such as Linux, onto the PlayStation 3, the company was almost immediately hit with seven separate class-action lawsuits from gamers outraged by the now-false claims from Sony that it would support the Other-OS feature on a permanent basis.

All seven class-action lawsuits have now been consolidated into one class-action suit, with the primary allegations being that Sony "falsely represented that PS3 users would be able to use their PS3s as a computer by installing an alternate operating system." Sony released a firmware upgrade that removed the ability to utilize this feature, effectively forcing Other-OS users into an ultimatum of continuing to use their Other-OS feature, or upgrading their console's firmware so they could continue to utilize the PS3's online capabilities and play new games.

Sony don't have much of a defense against the allegations, with the likely expectation that Sony will be forced to pay out in one form or another. The primary hope for this case is that Sony thinks twice before removing features from its' console that they stated would be supported.

Sony have not responded to these allegations as yet.

Source: Ars Technica