Italians threaten suit over Windows pre-install

An Italian consumer rights group plans to slap Microsoft with a class-action lawsuit this week seeking compensation on behalf of people forced to buy Windows pre-installed on new computers.

The ADUC, which specializes in public interests related to TV, internet, and telephone, said it would file the lawsuit at a court in Florence after the Epiphany holiday on Wednesday, according to Reuters. The case will be brought under a new law permitting consumer groups to file class-action lawsuits on behalf of the people they represent.

"As there is a large number of users involved, and with the importance of the free market issue, we have decided to take a collective legal action against Microsoft," ADUC chairman Vincenzo Donvito told Reuters.

30 million German bank cards hit by 2010 bug

AROUND 30 million high-tech German bank cards could leave owners high and dry, bank associations warned on Tuesday as the feared Y2K computer bug cropped up 10 years later than expected.

The problem that hit cardholders trying to use cash machines or make payments throughout Germany and abroad stems from computer chips unable to recognize the year 2010, and could take up to a week to resolve, the DSGV savings and regional banking association said in a statement.

A global alert had gone out 10 years ago amid widespread fears of a similar problem, dubbed Y2K for the year 2000. More recent cards that contain a computer chip designed to provide extra security have been affected while older ones with just a magnetic strip on the back appear to work normally.

$675,000 RIAA File Sharing Verdict Is ‘Unreasonable’

The nation’s second file sharing defendant to challenge the Recording Industry Association of America at trial is asking the court for a retrial, or to reduce the $675,000 verdict the jury levied for infringing 30 songs.

Among other claims, lawyers for defendant Joel Tenenbaum asserted Monday this summer’s verdict was unconstitutionally excessive. The essence of the argument is that a penalty of $22,500 a song is simply too big, it shocks the conscience and it’s “obviously unreasonable.”

But that argument is a long shot at best. A similar one is pending in the Jammie Thomas-Rasset litigation, the nation’s first file sharing case. In that case, a Minnesota jury decided last summer that she should pay $1.92 million for 24 songs.