Amazon sued for allegedly sabotaging Fire TV Sticks to force users to upgrade
Amazon is facing a class action lawsuit alleging they intentionally rendered older Fire TV Stick devices unusable to push customers to upgrade.Summary
Amazon is being sued in a class action lawsuit accusing the company of deliberately disabling software support for its first- and second-generation Fire TV Stick devices. The lawsuit claims Amazon “bricked” these devices by halting software updates, causing remotes to malfunction and devices to slow down, ultimately forcing customers to purchase newer models. Plaintiff Bill Merewhuader alleges his second-generation device became inoperable after Amazon ended updates in March 2023, requiring him to buy a replacement in 2024. The suit alleges deceptive marketing practices, as Amazon reportedly never disclosed plans to discontinue software support. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has also raised concerns about such “bricking” practices, suggesting they may violate warranty requirements and constitute deceptive behavior if companies fail to disclose the duration of software support. The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and nationwide class action status.
(Source：New York Post)