Sony has told a court that consumers who buy digital PlayStation games do not actually own them, according to Techweez. The statement came as part of the company’s defense in a class-action lawsuit over the PlayStation Store’s “buy” button.
The lawsuit alleges that Sony misled customers into thinking they owned the digital titles they purchased. Sony argues that reasonable consumers would not be misled, since digital game purchases are clearly licenses, not transfers of ownership, per reporting from Game File and Yahoo.
Techweez reports that Sony’s position is that nobody really owns their PlayStation games in the traditional sense. The company is pushing to have the case dismissed before it reaches trial, arguing that the terms of sale are already obvious to users.
The case is separate from a related settlement. IGN reports that Sony has agreed to pay $7.85 million to users as part of a class-action settlement, though that payout appears tied to different claims. The New Haven Register notes that eligible PlayStation customers could receive money from that fund, with specific qualifications still to be determined.
The core dispute centers on what the “buy” button means in a digital storefront. Sony’s defense hinges on the idea that digital purchases have always been licenses, and that consumers understand this even if the wording on the storefront suggests otherwise.
What to watch next: whether the court accepts Sony’s argument that no reasonable buyer would be confused, or if the case proceeds to trial over the meaning of “buy” in a digital marketplace.
