Sony argues digital games not owned
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Sony told a federal court on August 21 that reasonable consumers would not be misled into thinking they own digital games. The class action alleges Sony's checkout fails California's 2025.
Background
In June 2026, four California PlayStation customers filed a class action lawsuit against Sony, alleging that the PlayStation Store checkout does not clearly disclose that digital game purchases are licenses, not ownership, as required by California's 2025 Digital Goods Law. Sony responded in an August 21 court filing, arguing that its terms of service and licensing agreements clearly state that software is licensed, not sold, and that reasonable consumers understand they do not own digital games. The case highlights ongoing tensions over digital ownership as physical media declines.
How it unfolded
- Jan 2025California's Digital Goods Law takes effect, requiring clear disclosure that digital purchases are licenses.
- Jun 18, 2026Four California PlayStation customers file a class action complaint against Sony, alleging inadequate disclosure of digital ownership terms.
- Aug 21, 2026Sony files its first substantive reply, arguing that reasonable consumers would not be misled and that digital ownership is implausible.
- Aug 28, 2026 -31, 2026Game File and other outlets report on Sony's filing, sparking widespread discussion and criticism.
Who’s saying what
- Sony
- Sony argues that its terms of service and licensing agreements clearly state that digital games are licensed, not owned, and that reasonable consumers understand this.
- Plaintiffs
- The plaintiffs claim that Sony's disclosures are not 'clear and conspicuous' as required by California law, because they are buried deep in lengthy documents.
- Public
- One netizen criticized Sony's argument, saying people expect the permanent right to execute the copy they paid $70 for, not exclusive copyright to the codebase.
Still unverified
The claim that Sony's argument is 'wild' or 'bad-faith' is opinion from commentators, not verified fact. The outcome of the lawsuit is pending.