Sony Claims Digital Game Ownership Is Misleading in Court

Sony informed a federal judge that consumers do not reasonably believe they own digital games purchased on the PlayStation Store, according to an August 21 filing. This is the company's response to a class action lawsuit filed in June by four California PlayStation customers, who argue that the store's 'Buy Now' and 'Confirm Purchase' buttons imply ownership, while only granting a revocable license. The lawsuit cites California's false advertising law, which prohibits sellers from using terms like 'buy' or 'purchase' without clear statements indicating that the transaction is for a license. Sony contends that its checkout process already meets this requirement, as fine print links to the PlayStation Terms of Service, which states that customers 'do not own the product.' The filing further argues that ownership is not a reasonable expectation for buyers, citing examples of two customers who purchased the same game on different dates. Sony's primary request is for the judge to send the dispute to private arbitration, as PlayStation's terms require claims to be settled this way. The judge has yet to rule on the arbitration request. Additionally, Sony announced plans to cease production of physical discs for new PlayStation games starting January 2028, making digital purchases the only option for new releases.

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