Sony Faces Fan Criticism Over Digital Game Policies Amid Legal Hypocrisy Accusations

Sony argued in a court filing that a “reasonable consumer” understands they do not own games purchased on the PlayStation Store, despite the company itself referring to users as owners of digital games for years.

As part of a class action lawsuit in California, Sony is accused of failing to adequately inform buyers that a digital purchase is merely a revocable license. The company’s lawyers argue that this is obvious and follows from the service terms, meaning the store is not obligated to separately highlight the fact.

In response, players have begun gathering examples from websites, PlayStation messaging, and the storefront where Sony uses the words “own,” “property,” and “owner.” For instance, instructions include the phrase “to update a game you already own,” while reviews on the PlayStation Store can be submitted by “verified owners.”

Although legal rights are indeed spelled out in multi-page license agreements, players believe Sony’s stance contradicts its own wording. Against the backdrop of the company’s plans to shift toward entirely digital distribution, this topic may become even more relevant.