Hacking group Anonymous targets Sony over deciding to kill PlayStation discs

The notorious hacking group Anonymous has officially targeted Sony over its decision to end the production of physical PlayStation discs, with the group taking to its X account to share a warning, "The End of Owning Your Games is Coming".

The group explains the difference between purchasing a physical copy of a game, which in many cases enables the owner to play the game without the need for an internet connection or an active account. Additionally, a physical copy also means if the game is removed from the PSN Store, it will still work, while also being able to trade it in, lend it to a friend, or resell it.

Anonymous goes on to write that Sony, by removing physical copies of games, means the only way to access PlayStation games is digitally, which is a purchase of a license that Sony holds the revocability rights to in perpetuity, meaning Sony can disable access to your game at any given time, despite you having "bought" or "purchased" it. The company even outlines in its Software Usage Terms that any terminology such as "own," "purchase," "buy", and "sell" "do not mean that ownership is actually being transferred to you," writes Anonymous.

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Question #1

What specific Sony policy language does Anonymous cite that says terms like “own” or “buy” don’t transfer ownership of digital PlayStation games?

Anonymous cites Sony's Software Usage Terms, saying those terms state that wording such as "own," "purchase," "buy," and "sell" "do not mean that ownership is actually being transferred to you." The group quotes that section to argue digital purchases are licenses that Sony can revoke.

Answered

Question #2

How does Anonymous describe the difference in rights between owning a physical PlayStation disc and buying a digital license from Sony?

Anonymous says a physical disc lets you play without an internet connection or active account, continues to work if a game is removed from the PSN Store, and can be traded, lent, or resold. By contrast, buying digitally is actually a license Sony retains revocability rights to in perpetuity, meaning Sony can disable your access even after you have "bought" the game, and its Software Usage Terms state words like "own" or "purchase" do not transfer ownership. Anonymous also notes license, account, or agreement termination can require you to stop using and delete any copies.

Answered

Question #3

Which past game shutdown does Anonymous point to as an example of digital purchases being revoked, and what happened to players who owned it?

Anonymous points to Ubisoft's The Crew, which required an internet connection and was switched off by Ubisoft. As a result, the full-priced game was effectively revoked from the thousands of players who had "owned" it and could no longer play it.

Answered

Question #4

What legal development in California does Anonymous reference that affects how digital stores must describe purchases?

Anonymous says California passed a law, signed by the governor, that requires digital stores to clearly disclose that a digital purchase is a license rather than full ownership. The law bars stores from freely using words like "buy" or "purchase" for digital media unless they make clear the customer does not fully own the product, and violations can be treated as false advertising.

Answered

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Furthermore, Anonymous adds, "Another section goes further and says that once your agreement, your account, or your license ends, you are expected to stop using the content and delete or destroy any copies." Anonymous writes that the brewing of the end of owning your games has already begun and points to Ubisoft's The Crew, which required an internet connection to work, being switched off by Ubisoft, resulting in a full-priced game being revoked from the thousands of players who "owned" it.

"In the United States, California passed a law, signed by the governor, that targets exactly this confusion. It requires digital stores to clearly tell customers that a purchase is a license, not full ownership. Under the law, stores can no longer freely use words like"buy"or"purchase"for digital media unless they make clear that the customer does not fully own the product. Breaking the rule can be treated as false advertising. The lawmaker behind it said it was a direct response to situations like the shutdown of The Crew and the removal of purchased PlayStation content," writes Anonymous