A judge has denied a Star Citizen backer’s request for a refund of $4,496 from Cloud Imperium Games. The judge ruled in favor of the company, stating that the backer had agreed to the retroactive Terms of Service and that the game’s design and features were well-known before the pledge was made.
In a recent court case, a Star Citizen backer named Ken Lord attempted to obtain a refund of $4,496 from Cloud Imperium Games (CIG), the company behind the game. However, the judge ruled in favor of CIG, denying Lord’s refund. The issue of refunds in crowdfunding campaigns is a contentious one, with some backers abusing the system and others genuinely deserving of refunds for medical reasons. Recently, CIG has become more strict with refund requests, likely due to the system being abused. Lord’s argument for a refund was based on his inability to play certain aspects of the game due to his medical condition, but CIG argued that the game’s design and features were well-known before Lord pledged his money. Ultimately, the judge agreed with CIG, stating that Lord had agreed to the updated Terms of Service, which apply retroactively. This ruling raises questions about the legality and fairness of crowdfunding campaigns, particularly in cases where backers are dissatisfied with the final product.