Where are we with this class action lawsuit against Sony claiming we do not own our digital content? There is a lot of news going around about this case, and it seems like Sony is shooting itself in the foot, which works in our favor. Why is that? Well, first off, Sony is claiming, just like Ubisoft with The Crew, that you are purchasing a license for the game, not ownership. This is important as we move forward. You see, specificity is key in any statement and/or argument. This is why many either beat around the question by not admitting anything or just omit it entirely.
It’s all in the phrasing:
When you use the terms “Buy Now”, “On Sale”, or even “Add to Cart,” you are giving us, the consumer, the impression of a purchase. But Sony, in regard to PlayStation, is talking as if we are renting instead of buying. Which, of course, a customer would not confuse the two. Here is what Sony stated, which came from Retroforthefirsttime.
“No One is stupid enough to believe that they’re actually buying something, even if we are using the word buy now or on sale, that’s just silly.”
“They couldn’t possibly sell you something digitally because if they did well once they sold it to you they couldn’t sell it to anyone else.”
Yeah, those two defense statements don’t hold any weight at all. This all started in June with a few customers suing Sony over the ownership policy. This is coming from the Fortune website.
Class action lawsuit filed in California’s Northern District Court in June, in which four customers allege that the technology giant did not properly disclose that paying for a downloadable game does not grant permanent ownership or access to it. The lawsuit claims Sony’s disclosures violate a 2024 California law AB 2426 requiring a warning that “states in plain language that ‘buying’ or ‘purchasing’ the digital good is a license.”
It is wild they the company is trying to say it is not plausible that consumers believe they own their games. Why the hell not? No one would think that we rented the content. So what kind of wording is this?
Personal Take from BWAC:
I said it before, there have been issues before things went fully digital and for the gaming industry it is just getting worse with some companies. Physical has not been the same for a long time where we got less items and just a disc. Even at times you have to install the rest of the game once in the system. Even worse with companies like Limited Run games that is making the fomo worse for gamers. It comes down to the greedy tactics of these companies that push their agenda.
We are the consumers and we should take notice and let these companies know that our business can go else where if need be. Sony has rasied prices before the RAM shortage, did Dynamic pricing where new consumers got cheaper rates, and now taking away physical for their monopoly gain. It comes down to if you can fight the FOMO and stop letting companies make you feel less than as if we do not have options.
Either way, let me know your thoughts on the situation. Also let us know if you are doing the blackout to protest against Sony and how is that going. Stay tuned for more news udpates as they develop. – Beast Out –