A consumer rights group has begun compiling evidence to counter Sony's recent legal stance on digital game ownership. The group's wiki now lists more than 30 examples from PlayStation's website that appear to suggest users own the digital games they purchase.
This effort comes after Sony's legal team argued that "reasonable consumers" understand they do not truly own the digital content they buy on the PlayStation Store. Instead, purchases grant a revocable license, meaning access to a game, DLC, or cosmetic items is not guaranteed in perpetuity. Sony's defense suggested that disclosures in their Terms of Service and Software Product Licensing Agreement, presented before purchase, sufficiently inform consumers.
In response, the Consumer Rights wiki has published a table of references from Sony's site that use phrasing implying ownership. These include statements such as "View a broadcast for a game you own through the game's hub" and instructions on switching between PS4 and PS5 versions of the same game if both are owned. A more recent example cited is from Marvel's Wolverine's FAQ section, which states, "Standard Edition owners can also upgrade to the Digital Deluxe Edition content."
The ongoing class action lawsuit against Sony alleges that the PlayStation Store's terms are not clear regarding digital ownership. Claimants argue that Sony's practices violate California law, which prohibits advertising or selling digital goods with terms like "buy" or "purchase" that suggest an unrestricted ownership interest, unless clear licensing information is provided. The outcome of this lawsuit is expected in the coming weeks and months.