Sony Says ‘Reasonable Consumers’ Know They Don’t Actually Own Digitally Purchased Games
Sony is arguing in an August 21 court filing that reasonable consumers already understand digital PlayStation game purchases provide only limited licenses instead of full ownership.
The company faces a class-action complaint filed June 18 in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California by four plaintiffs claiming violations of state law AB 2426, reports Fortune.
Sony points to its Terms of Service and Software Product License Agreement, which state the software is licensed rather than sold.
“In the digital age, it is not plausible to allege that reasonable consumers believed they were obtaining ‘ownership’ of a digital game,” the motion reads.
The filing highlights two plaintiffs who bought Resident Evil Requiem for $69.99 just 11 days apart in February 2026 to show that exclusive ownership claims make no sense in a digital marketplace where multiple buyers can acquire the same title.
Sony also emailed account holders to remind them that purchases amount to personal licenses for private use only.
The company has separately announced it will stop producing physical discs for new games starting January 2028 as consumer preferences shift toward digital formats.
The lawsuit remains ongoing in federal court.
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