Sony Argues in Court That Digital Games Can't Be Owned
Sony told a federal judge that PlayStation Store customers do not reasonably think they own digital games they pay for, only a revocable license. That response is the company’s first substantive filing in a California class action alleging that “Buy Now” and “Confirm Purchase” mislead consumers into thinking they are buying ownership rather than a license. The case relies on a new California false-advertising rule requiring clear disclosure when digital goods are licensed, not sold. Sony says its checkout already meets that standard through linked terms of service and license agreements stating users do not own the product and the software is “licensed to you, not sold.” Sony also argues the claim is implausible because one customer could not later buy the same game if the first purchaser truly owned it. Its main goal is to move the dispute into private arbitration under PlayStation’s terms, which also include a class-action waiver. The judge has not ruled yet.
