AI Generated Image
Sony Says Wild Stuff In A New Legal Filing About Digital Games
Kotaku • • technology
Key Points:
- A proposed class action lawsuit claims Sony is not clearly disclosing that digital games sold for the PS5 are licenses, not permanent ownership, despite a 2025 California law requiring such transparency.
- Sony argues in its defense that reasonable consumers understand digital games are licensed, not owned, citing ongoing sales of the same game to multiple users as evidence.
- The lawsuit centers on California's mandate for a clear warning label informing buyers that digital games can be revoked at any time, which plaintiffs say is currently missing.
- Sony contends that the terms of service, which buyers agree to, sufficiently explain the licensing nature of digital games, though these terms are rarely read by consumers.
- The court is currently deciding whether the case should go to arbitration, and if the lawsuit proceeds, it could lead to changes such as replacing the “Buy” button with “Purchase a digital license” in the PlayStation Store.
