Sony Trying To Gaslight Playstation Consumers; You Never Own Digital Games You Bought

[RAMROD 117,806]

Sony is currently facing a class action lawsuit that claims PlayStation doesn't currently provide enough warning to players that a digital purchase of a game does not result in ownership of the title. In its official response, Sony has claimed that it's actually impossible for users to own a digital PlayStation game to begin with.

All eyes are still fixed on Sony following its announcement on July 1 that physical disc production will be coming to an end in January 2028. This announcement caused widespread backlash from gamers, with it essentially meaning that players will no longer be able to purchase physical games, sell them, or let their friends borrow their copies. It also essentially means that PlayStation players will no longer own most of their game library, as when you purchase a digital game via the PlayStation Store (and many other digital storefronts), you're technically only purchasing the license to play it and not ownership rights to the game itself.

Back in June, a group of four gamers began the process to sue Sony due to the alleged insufficient warnings surrounding purchases on the PlayStation Store. More specifically, the proposed class action lawsuit claims that Sony is breaking a relatively new Californian law that requires digital storefronts to make it expressly clear that consumers are purchasing a license to play the game and not the game itself. Before making a purchase on the PlayStation Store, a line of text appears above the confirm button, stating that by confirming their purchase, users acknowledge that their purchase "amounts to a license subject to Software Product License Agreement." The group of suing gamers claim this warning is insufficient.

On August 21, Sony made its official argument against this proposed class action lawsuit. As first reported by Game File, Sony's argument states that those warnings prior to a digital purchase are sufficient as they link to both the PlayStation Terms of Service and the Software Product License Agreement. Sony believes these warnings are clear enough that "reasonable consumers would not be misled."

Sony goes on to claim that consumers should inherently understand that a digital purchase cannot grant ownership of the game as then other consumers would be unable to purchase it. Sony's statement reads, "In the digital age, it is not plausible to allege that reasonable consumers believed they were obtaining ‘ownership’ of a digital game."

 

https://gamerant.com/sony-playstation-digital-ownership-licenses-impossible/?link_source=ta_first_comment&taid=6a95ac0d1387560001478c6a&utm_campaign=TrueAnthem-GR&utm_content=comment&utm_medium=Social-Distribution&utm_source=Facebook

[peggyhill 2,128]

I think we should keep pushing against these companies until you dont need a degree in law to understand what you're agreeing to when you hit 'accept' to terms of service. 

I recently decided to read the full terms of service on a game I bought, and even as a fast reader, it took me nearly an hour to read the full agreement, partially because some of the language that I read was so full of legalese, that I had to go over, and re-read some of it several times. 

You shouldn't need a lawyer by your side to "purchase a license" for a game

Edited 20 hours ago by peggyhill

[onTheBrink 1,602]

27 minutes ago, RAMROD said:

Sony goes on to claim that consumers should inherently understand that a digital purchase cannot grant ownership of the game as then other consumers would be unable to purchase it. Sony's statement reads, "In the digital age, it is not plausible to allege that reasonable consumers believed they were obtaining ‘ownership’ of a digital game."

This is such a bad faith argument and is such a bad look omfg

Edited 20 hours ago by onTheBrink

[weed 79,208]

as a consumer I've always been a Sony/PS girlie but whew I hope this truly backfires. Streaming services already toe around this line, a la Netflix shows being taken off their original service bc of their licensing or whatever... but purchasing games and then "jk not anymore" girl bye! 

I also don't love physical! takes up space! but if that's the only solution to permanently owning stuff... get those DVD and blu-ray factories up and running mama. 

[RebeldeFaith 5,769]

Haven't given them my money in many years, and it seems like it'll remain that way. 

Unfortunately this is where the entire industry is probably going to drift into. Fortunately, yes, I would download a car.

[EART HL I NG 1,537]

Sony can sit and swivel then kiss my entire white hairy ass

 

Every corporation can tbh but let the mf burn

[Ayesha Erotica 1,949]

1 hour ago, peggyhill said:

I recently decided to read the full terms of service on a game I bought, and even as a fast reader, it took me nearly an hour to read the full agreement, partially because some of the language that I read was so full of legalese, that I had to go over, and re-read some of it several times. 

 

Respect that you entirely read it  I don't speak Legalese either. Rumor has it it's harder than Burmese

[Ayesha Erotica 1,949]

28 minutes ago, EART HL I NG said:

Sony can sit and swivel then kiss my entire white hairy ass

before you're gonna grace the CEO, Ayesha comes first 

[Cssomeone 1,717]

Just another reason why Nintendo is superior 

[EART HL I NG 1,537]

1 hour ago, Ayesha Erotica said:

before you're gonna grace the CEO, Ayesha comes first 

[Roughhouse Dandy 13,782]

As a Sony/PS enjoyer? Sony needs to lose in a big way and learn a lesson or two about how to treat people.  

[River 128,307]

Even if you own the game physically, you only own the disc itself, but not the license of the game on the disc, they can shut down the game anytime they want.. or ban your console 

All these problems and greediness started when gaming shifted from a niche to a mainstream entertainment..