PlayStation believes "reasonable consumers would not be misled" by its current disclosures

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/51388116

With the end of physical PlayStation games looming, the need for clear digital ownership rights is more pressing than ever.

For its part, Sony believes your rights are very clear: you do not own your digital games, and it’s unlikely you’re stupid enough to believe otherwise. At least, that’s roughly the argument the company’s lawyers are presenting in response to a proposed class-action lawsuit.

Sony argues that its current customer-facing disclosures ensure that “reasonable consumers would not be misled” into believing they actually own their digital games. That’s according to a Game File report (paid article link) citing an August 21 filing Sony’s lawyers made in California’s Northern District.

  • GiantRobotTRex@lemmy.todayEnglish
    0·
    8 hours ago

    In other words, Sony’s lawyers are arguing that if you truly own your digital games, only one copy of GTA 6 could ever be sold. “Were that the case, then Plaintiff Edward Heycock would not have been able to obtain the game Resident Evil Requiem on February 25, 2026 for $69.99 from the PlayStation Store after Plaintiff Jason Mendoza had obtained Resident Evil Requiem on February 14, 2026, because Mr. Mendoza, not Sony, would have owned it then,” the filing says.

    OK, so by that logic if only one copy exists and that copy is rented to Jason Mendoza, then Sony shouldn’t be able to rent it to Edward Heycock because the one copy is already in use by Mendoza.

    • __hetz@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      0·
      7 hours ago

      It really should work that way then, instead of letting them have their cake and eat it too. They and others have fought hard to make that logic work to their own ends. When publishers can enforce artificial scarcity of digital goods upon public libraries, like limiting the number of active e-book loans at any time, those same publishers should find themselves bleeding on the other edge of that sword. But since corporations are “persons,” the large ones belonging to that class of untouchables, it’s “rules for thee, but not for me” as always.