September 3, 2026 | 07:58 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sony has asserted that consumers who purchase games digitally via the PlayStation Store do not actually own the games but merely acquire a license to play them.
According to an Engadget report from Tuesday, September 1, local time, as cited by Antara, Sony made this statement in its response to a class-action lawsuit filed in a California court in the United States.
The lawsuit alleges that Sony failed to clearly inform consumers that digital game purchases do not confer ownership rights over the games.
Filed on June 18, the lawsuit argues that the use of terms such as "purchase" and "buy" during the transaction process could lead consumers to believe they are actually buying and owning the games.
The plaintiffs also contend that Sony did not clearly disclose at the time of purchase that the transaction granted only a license rather than ownership; such information was relegated to disclaimers or separate agreements.
Sony denied the allegations in its response filed on August 21, arguing that consumers should understand the distinction between purchasing a physical game and acquiring one digitally.
Sony also pointed to terms in its software license agreement stating that the software is "licensed to you, not sold."
According to Sony, the concept of digital game ownership differs from that of physical products because multiple people can purchase a digital copy of a game through the same digital storefront.
The company cited the game Resident Evil Requiem as an example. Sony argued that if a digital purchase equated to outright ownership, subsequent customers would be unable to buy the same game because it would already be owned by a previous purchaser.
The matter is currently awaiting a court ruling on whether the information Sony provided to consumers was sufficiently clear to meet California legal standards.
Sony has also recently reminded users via email that digital games purchased through the PlayStation Store represent a license for use rather than a product owned outright.
Meanwhile, Sony intends to proceed with major changes to its game distribution strategy. The company previously announced that it would cease physical game production for PlayStation starting in January 2028, despite facing opposition from some users.
Read: Sony Says PS5 Memory Supply Secure Despite Global AI-Driven Shortages
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