HDTV (High-Definition Television) Owners Lawsuit Information
07-09-07, 12:24 AM
#1
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HDTV (High-Definition Television) Owners Lawsuit Information
HDTV (High-Definition Television) Owners Lawsuit Information
Here's what the Major HDTV Manufacturers Forgot to Tell You
Here is the link for the full scoop;
http://ilp.legalleadshost.com/1080p/...1CTTFIhp2gjPs/
Here's what the Major HDTV Manufacturers Forgot to Tell You
Here is the link for the full scoop;
http://ilp.legalleadshost.com/1080p/...1CTTFIhp2gjPs/
07-09-07, 01:06 AM
#2
I don't understand... this was known at the time. If anyone was "tricked", it was because they didn't take the time to understand what they were buying.
Sure, technology can be confusing, but the manufacturers were not lying. These sets are 1080p and display 1080p, regardless of whether they will accept 1080p over component.*
* And really, there really is no difference in 1080i versus 1080p inputs on a 1080p set. At least I cannot tell a difference at all.
Sure, technology can be confusing, but the manufacturers were not lying. These sets are 1080p and display 1080p, regardless of whether they will accept 1080p over component.*
* And really, there really is no difference in 1080i versus 1080p inputs on a 1080p set. At least I cannot tell a difference at all.
07-09-07, 01:16 AM
#3
I'm not so sure the lawsuit is digitally kosher.
The televisions in the years the lawsuit describes, just upconverted the signals from 720p and 1080i to 1080p. Since upconverting specs are not necessary exclusive of saying a telly is 1080p, you just have to be a wise consumer. How? Reading the specs of the television you purchase.
Yes, it's shady. But not illegal and I don't have much hope for this lawsuit.
The televisions in the years the lawsuit describes, just upconverted the signals from 720p and 1080i to 1080p. Since upconverting specs are not necessary exclusive of saying a telly is 1080p, you just have to be a wise consumer. How? Reading the specs of the television you purchase.
Yes, it's shady. But not illegal and I don't have much hope for this lawsuit.
07-09-07, 01:20 AM
#4
DVD Talk Hero
I have seen many of totally stupid class action before...but this has to be in the top 10 or so.
Even if and it is a HUGE if...you could prove all of that...what are the damages? What money are you out of pocket? Nothing.
This seems to be a classic case of a bunch of attorneys saying "lets throw something out there and see if someone folds". And if Sony or whoever does, it will mean some $10 coupons on future purchases while the attorneys make millions and millions.
Even if and it is a HUGE if...you could prove all of that...what are the damages? What money are you out of pocket? Nothing.
This seems to be a classic case of a bunch of attorneys saying "lets throw something out there and see if someone folds". And if Sony or whoever does, it will mean some $10 coupons on future purchases while the attorneys make millions and millions.
07-09-07, 01:44 AM
#5
How can you deceive someone when in the television's specifications, it states the signal is upconverted to 1080p. I want to see proof a particular TV manufacturer left this out of their user manual or spec sheet.
But a television advertised as providing a 1080p signal, was indeed, accurate. It just upconverted a 720p or 1080i signal to 1080p (or even 480i for all that matters). If anything, people need to write/email the people who make the rules. Those are the guys who need to be contacted.
The laws do not protect a consumer from being a retard. The consumer is obligated to research their purchase and have an understanding of the definitions of the technology they are purchasing.
Technology is also moving so fast, there is an inherent amount of incompatability anyway.
But a television advertised as providing a 1080p signal, was indeed, accurate. It just upconverted a 720p or 1080i signal to 1080p (or even 480i for all that matters). If anything, people need to write/email the people who make the rules. Those are the guys who need to be contacted.
The laws do not protect a consumer from being a retard. The consumer is obligated to research their purchase and have an understanding of the definitions of the technology they are purchasing.
Technology is also moving so fast, there is an inherent amount of incompatability anyway.
07-09-07, 02:25 AM
#6
Originally Posted by Vandelay_Inds
They advertise one thing and provide something else.
Should manufacturers be blamed for customer ignorancy? Because that is exactly what this lawsuit is asking for: "pay me because I didn't know what I was buying".
07-09-07, 05:27 AM
#7
DVD Talk Legend
Originally Posted by davron
HDTV (High-Definition Television) Owners Lawsuit Information
With respect to the posted link, I call bullshit. It doesn't seem to be connected to an actual filed lawsuit. I would be cautious about filling it out and submitting it. It seems a little hinky (and poorly written) to me:
By submitting this form you not (sic) entering into a fee agreement. This form is just a request for legal advice.
07-09-07, 10:26 AM
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I doubt this lawsuit will have any legs. For one, there were many manufacturers who built 1080p TVs BEFORE the HDCP standard was finalized.
I remember researching the TVs I was interested in before buying. The closest one I can recall which would match the lawsuit was Mitsubishi's bottom end product.
They carried a DLP set which reportedly was 720p. In fact, the projector was 720p. However, no input would accept a 720p signal. It would only take 480p or 1080i and then upconvert to 720p. As it turns out the ATSC tuner could accept a 720p signal over the air and thus could display natively at 720p. Tricky...yes...lying...no.
I remember researching the TVs I was interested in before buying. The closest one I can recall which would match the lawsuit was Mitsubishi's bottom end product.
They carried a DLP set which reportedly was 720p. In fact, the projector was 720p. However, no input would accept a 720p signal. It would only take 480p or 1080i and then upconvert to 720p. As it turns out the ATSC tuner could accept a 720p signal over the air and thus could display natively at 720p. Tricky...yes...lying...no.
Last edited by fidodido; 07-09-07 at 03:59 PM.
07-09-07, 01:05 PM
#11
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Originally Posted by mbs
Should manufacturers be blamed for customer ignorancy? Because that is exactly what this lawsuit is asking for: "pay me because I didn't know what I was buying".
Maybe they should start a lawsuit next against the range manufacturers because it didn't say it could cause burns at 600 degrees even though the temperature gague only goes to "Hi".
07-09-07, 07:16 PM
#12
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Vandelay_Inds
That's greek to me and 99% of the population. 
If I buy an "HD" TV, that's what I expect to get. It is the customer's duty to inform him/herself on what he's/she's getting, but it is also the companies' responsibility to make it perfectly clear and evident what a product entails. Like those HD sets that were labeled "HD ready", which in fact meant the exact opposite you'd expect, since as far as I can remember they required an additional component to view HD content. 
You should be able to walk into a store and pick something up without doing a ton of research to avoid being ripped-off. If a description or depiction leads a reasonable person with average reading skills to believe a product is of a certain nature or functionality, which it in fact lacks, and furthermore when that description is deliberately devised to mislead consumers into thinking they're purchasing something else than what they're actually receiving, that's fraudulent advertising.
This kind of dishonesty and deceit is running rampant across corporate America. I hope they're made accountable.
If I buy an "HD" TV, that's what I expect to get. It is the customer's duty to inform him/herself on what he's/she's getting, but it is also the companies' responsibility to make it perfectly clear and evident what a product entails. Like those HD sets that were labeled "HD ready", which in fact meant the exact opposite you'd expect, since as far as I can remember they required an additional component to view HD content. You should be able to walk into a store and pick something up without doing a ton of research to avoid being ripped-off. If a description or depiction leads a reasonable person with average reading skills to believe a product is of a certain nature or functionality, which it in fact lacks, and furthermore when that description is deliberately devised to mislead consumers into thinking they're purchasing something else than what they're actually receiving, that's fraudulent advertising.
This kind of dishonesty and deceit is running rampant across corporate America. I hope they're made accountable.
It was like buying a turntable "back in the day". You would expect it to play records, yes? But you would have to read and do research to see what SIZE of records that particular player would play. Not all turntables would play 45's and 78's. You would not sue a turntable maker who said its unit played records for in fact it does. But it is up to you to decide if this particular turntable fits your needs.
A more modern example: if I ask you what the Sony XYZ CD player plays, you would answer what? CD's, right? But then if I ask you if it played MP3's, or CD's burned from a computer, what would you say? You would have to say you would have to look at the manual or do some research. You would not sue a CD maker who said their player plays CD's for in fact it does. It is up to you to decide which particular player meets your individual needs.
Stupid, stupid lawsuit, IMHO.
07-09-07, 07:44 PM
#13
Yep. Gawtz-tah check dah uzer's man-yool.
07-09-07, 11:53 PM
#14
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Originally Posted by Vandelay_Inds
That's greek to me and 99% of the population. If I buy an "HD" TV, that's what I expect to get. It is the customer's duty to inform him/herself on what he's/she's getting, but it is also the companies' responsibility to make it perfectly clear and evident what a product entails. Like those HD sets that were labeled "HD ready", which in fact meant the exact opposite you'd expect, since as far as I can remember they required an additional component to view HD content.
If I buy an "HD" TV, that's what I expect to get. It is the customer's duty to inform him/herself on what he's/she's getting, but it is also the companies' responsibility to make it perfectly clear and evident what a product entails. Like those HD sets that were labeled "HD ready", which in fact meant the exact opposite you'd expect, since as far as I can remember they required an additional component to view HD content.
You should be able to walk into a store and pick something up without doing a ton of research to avoid being ripped-off. If a description or depiction leads a reasonable person with average reading skills to believe a product is of a certain nature or functionality, which it in fact lacks, and furthermore when that description is deliberately devised to mislead consumers into thinking they're purchasing something else than what they're actually receiving, that's fraudulent advertising.
This kind of dishonesty and deceit is running rampant across corporate America. I hope they're made accountable.
This kind of dishonesty and deceit is running rampant across corporate America. I hope they're made accountable.
Gimme a flippin' break. People like you disgust me. You obviously can use the internet. Try googling HDTV and read something for once. Quit relying on others to manage your life.
07-10-07, 02:55 PM
#16
DVD Talk Hero
I don't get it, so some HDTVs have 1080i inputs on them. They're still 1080p TVs, their native resolution is 1920x1080 ad they don't advertise the inputs as otherwise.
HD-Ready was often switched with HD-Compatible, those make sense, neither were true "HDTVs" because they didn't have tuners.
Maybe it's just me, but when dropping $1500+ on something, I tend to look at all the features instead of just the very basics. Also, if you're buying an HDTV, you're still getting one, 720p and 1080i are still HD and are what broadcasters tend to broadcast in.
And it's nothing like an arrogant group suing a 12 year old girl.
HD-Ready was often switched with HD-Compatible, those make sense, neither were true "HDTVs" because they didn't have tuners.
Maybe it's just me, but when dropping $1500+ on something, I tend to look at all the features instead of just the very basics. Also, if you're buying an HDTV, you're still getting one, 720p and 1080i are still HD and are what broadcasters tend to broadcast in.
And it's nothing like an arrogant group suing a 12 year old girl.
Last edited by RichC2; 07-10-07 at 02:57 PM.
07-10-07, 03:10 PM
#18
DVD Talk Godfather
If a TV is 1080P, it should be 1080P. That means, to me, that it can accept signals at 1080P and it displays signals at 1080P. None of this "well it upconverts" or "it's not really, but the end result is similar to..." Either it is, or it isn't.
The average consumer's extent of research is going to be reading reviews online (maybe), the specs at a retailer's or manufacturer's site (maybe), and/or someone at the store (who is maybe right). No manufacturer is going to say this:
I think class-action lawsuits are stupid, but so is false advertising. It is not up to the consumer to make sure that advertising is truthful.
The average consumer's extent of research is going to be reading reviews online (maybe), the specs at a retailer's or manufacturer's site (maybe), and/or someone at the store (who is maybe right). No manufacturer is going to say this:
Originally Posted by TV Technix Inc.
Model DRG-12949XXS
Features:
Features:
- Three-pronged wall plug
- 1080P signal, but it's not really 1080P. But we put a sticker on it that says 1080P. Even though it's not really.
- Rugged outer case to prevent fall-apart.
07-10-07, 03:20 PM
#19
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Originally Posted by The Bus
If a TV is 1080P, it should be 1080P. That means, to me, that it can accept signals at 1080P and it displays signals at 1080P. None of this "well it upconverts" or "it's not really, but the end result is similar to..." Either it is, or it isn't.
The average consumer's extent of research is going to be reading reviews online (maybe), the specs at a retailer's or manufacturer's site (maybe), and/or someone at the store (who is maybe right). No manufacturer is going to say this:
I think class-action lawsuits are stupid, but so is false advertising. It is not up to the consumer to make sure that advertising is truthful.
The average consumer's extent of research is going to be reading reviews online (maybe), the specs at a retailer's or manufacturer's site (maybe), and/or someone at the store (who is maybe right). No manufacturer is going to say this:
I think class-action lawsuits are stupid, but so is false advertising. It is not up to the consumer to make sure that advertising is truthful.
You shouldn't spend that much money, if you don't know what you are buying.
07-10-07, 04:02 PM
#20
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When 'cable-ready television' was a new term, I don't recall cries of deception when you couldn't pull in CATV channels by simply turning on the TV.
07-10-07, 11:24 PM
#21
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Originally Posted by The Bus
It is not up to the consumer to make sure that advertising is truthful.
Advertising is legalized trickery and lying to the public, just accept this as an axiom. Now, that is morally wrong in my value set, but my only course of action is to bypass it. Whining about it on an electronics forum is fairly pointless. Try ignoring it (unless it's funny), your life will be smoother.
07-10-07, 11:30 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by Vandelay_Inds
No wonder these fuckers get away with stuff like suing 12-yo girls out of their college fund. You say thank you while they rip you off.
I am reminded of a classic JibJab.
07-11-07, 02:28 PM
#24
DVD Talk Hero
I will say the 1080i/p thing is kind of deceptive, but I didn't think it was widespread, in fact, are there any 1080p TVs w/ 1080i hdmi inputs still being produced?
The HD-Ready was no big deal.
The HD-Ready was no big deal.
07-11-07, 06:03 PM
#25
DVD Talk Hero
Originally Posted by Red Dog
Info on what 'HD-ready' means can be easily procured.
But then of course it is deceiving as a search engine doesn't provide every single site on the net. Then of course is it deceiving that you can't believe everything you read on the net....
