With the end of physical PlayStation games looming, the need for clear digital ownership rights is more pressing than ever.
For its part, Sony believes your rights are very clear: you do not own your digital games, and it’s unlikely you’re stupid enough to believe otherwise. At least, that’s roughly the argument the company’s lawyers are presenting in response to a proposed class-action lawsuit.
Sony argues that its current customer-facing disclosures ensure that “reasonable consumers would not be misled” into believing they actually own their digital games. That’s according to a Game File report (paid article link) citing an August 21 filing Sony’s lawyers made in California’s Northern District.
The price point was the stupidest decision too. Because back in, what, the early 2000s I fucking hated the fact that a digital book was the same price or more expensive than the physical book. People kept saying, “Books are super cheap and you’re paying for the author and publishing, etc.”
No, I’m not. I’m paying for the right to have a book. Once the book is in my hands, I can do whatever the fuck I want with it. If I decide to cut the words out to then put together my own smut, then the publisher can lick my taint.
I do not have the same right to resell a digital book. It better cost me LESS as a result and not give me the bullshit that “I’m paying for publishing…”
I’ve made the argument that what you’re really paying for is a license for the material which is understandable, even in physical form. But no publisher can remove my right to resell the book. Today, publishers can fully yank your “license” to your digital media for any reason or no reason AND FUCKING KEEP YOUR MONEY!
The reason we have this problem is because Congress sucks the cocks of Amazon and other publishers and refuses to regulate the business.
So feel free to pirate because at least you know what you’re getting.