The complaint for this class action defines Roblox Corporation as “an online, multiplayer virtual creation platform where users play games that were created, along with [their] for-sale content, by other users.” But it appears that Roblox does not fully review the for-sale content until after it begins selling it, and the complaint alleges that if Roblox objects to any of the items that have been sold, it simply removes them from the users’ accounts without refunding the money they paid for the items.
The class for this action is all individuals who bought content on the Roblox platform.
The plaintiff in this class action is a minor, represented by her mother, Audrey Burton. Roblox appeals to children, the complaint alleges, with two-thirds of all children in the US between ages nine and twelve having used Roblox as of April 2020. Roblox has some 20 million games on offer.
Some 8 million developers create content for Roblox. Users access Roblox through a free download. They personalize their avatars and make other in-game purchases with Robux, the in-game currency, via the Avatar Shop, the user-to-user marketplace. These purchases may include such things as clothing for their avatars, new heads or faces, gear, accessories, bundles, or animation packs. Roblox takes a commission on the sales.
The complaint alleges, “In essence, Roblox makes content available for purchase on the Roblox Avatar Shop without adequately scrutinizing the content to ensure that it complies with Roblox’s policies. If Roblox later determines that the content violates its policies (e.g., includes a trademarked logo), Roblox will delete the content.”
However, this deletion may happen after users have purchased that content. When this happens, it disappears from the accounts of those who bought it. The complaint says, “Users, who are predominantly children, are left with nothing.”
However, Roblox does not refund the purchase price of the items it deletes or its commission on them; it simply keeps the money. Users must then buy other content to replace the deleted content, spending more money, with Roblox earning even more from those purchases.
The complaint asks for the court to require Roblox to do several things:
- Perform adequate oversight before the content is offered for sale in the Avatar Shop.
- Perform additional oversight of developers who often create content that must be deleted.
- Create other oversight mechanisms to prevent deleted content from being offered for sale again.
- Provide users with a “comprehensive refund program” to refund the purchase price of content later deleted by Roblox.
The counts include violations of consumer protection laws and breach of the covenant of good faith and fair dealing.
Article Type: LawsuitTopic: Consumer
Most Recent Case Event
Roblox No Refunds for Deleted In-Game Purchases Complaint
July 23, 2021
The complaint for this class action defines Roblox Corporation as “an online, multiplayer virtual creation platform where users play games that were created, along with [their] for-sale content, by other users.” But it appears that Roblox does not fully review the for-sale content until after it begins selling it, and the complaint alleges that if Roblox objects to any of the items that have been sold, it simply removes them from the users’ accounts without refunding the money they paid for the items.
Roblox No Refunds for Deleted In-Game Purchases ComplaintCase Event History
Roblox No Refunds for Deleted In-Game Purchases Complaint
July 23, 2021
The complaint for this class action defines Roblox Corporation as “an online, multiplayer virtual creation platform where users play games that were created, along with [their] for-sale content, by other users.” But it appears that Roblox does not fully review the for-sale content until after it begins selling it, and the complaint alleges that if Roblox objects to any of the items that have been sold, it simply removes them from the users’ accounts without refunding the money they paid for the items.
Roblox No Refunds for Deleted In-Game Purchases Complaint