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Sony May Try To Stop PS3 Game Resales

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the because-we-can't-hate-them-enough dept.

Next Generation reports on Sony's hopes that it will be able to prevent the resale of PS3 games. The article argues that it is unlikely they'll succeed in this goal. From the article: "One expert in retail law told Next-Gen.Biz, 'Sony can theoretically sell a license to play the game, but the user would have to acknowledge acceptance of the license. You've seen this when you install software on a PC. I'm not sure that the license agreement is enforceable if the licensee doesn't agree to it. Also, even if the agreement is enforceable, it's hard to preclude subsequent sale of the disc. The consumer could theoretically agree that he doesn't own the right to transfer his license, but why couldn't he sell the medium that held the license (the disc)? Sony can't enforce the agreement against a third party, as it lacks privity with the third party.'"

14 of 423 comments (clear)

  1. I lost count by Roody+Blashes · · Score: 5, Insightful

    How many reasons do I now have to not buy a PS3?

    --
    If you haven't foed me yet, what are you waiting for?
    1. Re:I lost count by narrowhouse · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I am not even a big gamer, but back when it looked like Sony planned on shipping the PS3 with Linux installed, at $399 a pop, I thought I might get one just to have a blu-ray player and a linux machine running on a cell processor. Since then Sony:

      1- installed a root kit on my In-laws machine through a Neil Diamond CD
      2- increased the price dramatically
      3- announced that they would like to uni-laterally revoke my right to resell items I purchase.
      4- generally bone headed their way through every press conference they have had without apologizing directly for any of their bad behavior.

      so I don't have an exact count of reasons, but I know the sum == enough.

      --


      Insert pithy comment here.
    2. Re:I lost count by Theaetetus · · Score: 5, Informative
      3- announced that they would like to uni-laterally revoke my right to resell items I purchase.

      They did? When?

      (hint: never. This is an anonymously-sourced story, which Sony denied the first time it came up... two years ago)

    3. Re:I lost count by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5, Funny
      1- installed a root kit on my In-laws machine through a Neil Diamond CD

      The rootkit I can tolerate; we all have the occasional judgment lapse, right? But making your in-laws buy Neil Diamond... that, well, some things you just can't condone.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  2. Another for the rumor bin... by blanktek · · Score: 5, Insightful

    "According to a UK news source" the article claims. This is fit for the tabloids. I guess thats why its posted by Zonk.

    1. Re:Another for the rumor bin... by freshman_a · · Score: 5, Funny

      Warning: common sense detected - Please report to the nearest Anti-Sony bandwagon and jump on immediately!

      Who cares that it's "UK news sources, citing retail contacts" with no actual proof and an already previous denial by Sony? http://www.ps3focus.com/archives/159

      Hating Microsoft is so last year. We hate Sony now and all references to them are now spelled "$ony". Didn't you get the memo?

      --
      Slackware
    2. Re:Another for the rumor bin... by thatguywhoiam · · Score: 5, Funny
      Hating Microsoft is so last year. We hate Sony now and all references to them are now spelled "$ony". Didn't you get the memo?

      I'd like to get ahead of the hate-curve now and say:

      Wiiii Hate Nintendo. Curse you, $atoru Iwata!

      --
      If Jesus wants me it knows where to find me.
  3. Oh Sony... I pity you... by creepynut · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Ka-BLAM. - The sound of Sony falling to dust.

    Really, truly, why would Sony do this?

    I mean, I heard rumours of something similar a while back. They were going to try and make a disc you buy to only be able to play on a single system. No more copying, no more renting, no more lending.

    Hell, what happens to me when my PS3 goes the same way as my PS2 and I need to get a new one? Better yet, what happens when they release a new slimmer version and suddenly I'm not able to play anymore?

    Mind you, this may not be the case with this new system of theirs, but why kill the second hand market like this? I can't remember the last time I bought a game brand new. Game Boy Advance and Game Cube both, nearly all my games are second hand copies. Why? Because not only are they cheaper, but because it's sometimes harder to find games new after they're released. Especially the rare gems.

    On top of the fact that used games would be near impossible, what will they do for rentals? I'm certainly not going to go fork out $80 (CDN) for a new game that I've never tried. I want to go out and rent it, and if it is worth it, sure I'll pick up copy. "Greatest Hits" games hardly count, because they are simply cheaper because they've been out longer, and a few people liked them.

    If they do this, they'll be shooting themselves in the foot. There won't be a PS3 in my place (mind you, the PS2 belongs to the finacee), and I guarantee there won't be one in many of the living rooms I know of.

  4. Conversation among Sony execs by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Exec 1: This foot shotgun isn't letting us shoot ourselves in the feet thoroughly enough!
    Exec 2: Prepare...the foot cannon!

  5. Story based on nothing. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful
    This is just another stupid baseless rumor. The story is printed with no source and no evidence. The story is just another variation on a year-old rumor that Sony has already directly denied. The "Sony has a patent on such a technology" in the story fails to mention the patent in question was originally filed in the Playstation 1 era. Go and look up the original patent-- it talks about CD-ROMs.

    But, hey, the new rules of gaming media are
    1. Is it about Sony?
    2. Does it make Sony look bad?
    If so, then there is no step 3. The rumor must be right, and it's getting printed on Slashdot.
  6. Easy workaround? by Bastian · · Score: 5, Insightful

    So all I have to do to get around this is let the neighbor kid (who is too young to enter into any sort of legally binding contract) play all of my games first, right?

  7. More FUD from the anti-Sony cabal by SuperKendall · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Very clever hiding the truth behind two layers of news stories - the original story is about how industry experts doubt this claim (which comes from an unnamed UK source) is true! So why the anti-Sony spin when the original story is about how people think there's no way Sony would do this and they've not even said they would?

    --
    "There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
  8. Dear Sony: by msmercenary · · Score: 5, Funny

    Dear Sony:

    You need to stop pulling the trigger on that gun pointed at your foot. You've burned through the entire magazine, and it's time to reload.

  9. How to Make Your Company The Most Hated by exp(pi*sqrt(163)) · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Sony are acting like a company that own the market and can dictate whatever terms they want. Remind me, which Sony products are so awesome that I have to buy them and submit to these terms? It's not the their games consoles (portable or not I prefer Nintendo), or their TVs (Samsung make better) or their stereos (who'd buy a Sony?), or their portable audio players (I love my iPod), or their cameras (Canon for me), or their laptops (Apple again), or their memory sticks (I tend to use SD cards), or their crippl(ed|ing) audio CDs (somehow they don't seem to publish music I like), or even their headphones (I'm happy with my Sennheisers).

    --
    Doesn't it make you feel good to know that our freedoms are protected by politicans, lawyers and journalists.