Sony has argued that PlayStation players do not own the digital games they buy, claiming true ownership would prevent multiple customers from purchasing the same title.
The argument appeared in an August 21 court filing responding to a class action lawsuit against Sony. It alleges that the PlayStation Store failed to provide disclosures required under California’s 2025 Digital Goods Law.
According to the filing, obtained by Game File, Sony believes consumers could not reasonably expect to receive ownership of a game purchased digitally because its software is licensed rather than sold.
Sony’s lawyers cited the PlayStation Software Product License Agreement, which states: “The Software is licensed to you, not sold.”
The filing then used Resident Evil Requiem to illustrate Sony’s position, arguing that one player owning a digital game would theoretically prevent Sony from selling it to someone else.
“In the digital age, it is not plausible to allege that reasonable consumers believed they were obtaining ‘ownership’ of a digital game,” Sony’s lawyers said.
“Were that the case, then Plaintiff Edward Heycock would not have been able to obtain the game Resident Evil Requiem on February 25, 2026, for $69.99 from the PlayStation Store after Plaintiff Jason Mendoza had obtained Resident Evil Requiem on February 14, 2026, because Mr. Mendoza, not Sony, would have owned it then.”
Here's that argument, from Sony's lawyers… (SPLA = the Software Product Licensing Agreement that mentions, about 500 words, in that "The Software is licensed to you, not sold.") pic.twitter.com/l7xNO4Z4g9
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.dexerto.com/gaming/sony-responds-to-digital-games-lawsuit-and-claims-you-dont-actually-own-them-3403963/
