Playstation Network Gets Revised, More Restrictive ToS

LordDax writes "Sony just rolled out their new Terms of Service for the Playstation Network. The new ToS features additions about the Master & Subaccount relationship, specifically that you can only 'legally' create a sub account for your own child. No friends allowed. Where it really gets interesting is when you get to the additions to section 3.0 Community Code of Conduct. You now can't tell anyone your real name, where you live or basically anything besides your PSN ID. The new ToS also brings to light that SCEA is going to be monitoring every piece of communication and activitiy, and reserves the right to remove any content or communication they find objectionable without having to tell you in interests of SCEA, its users, or licensors. Another addition is: 'Some content may be provided automatically without notice when you sign into PSN. Such content may include automatic updates or upgrades which may change your current operating system, cause a loss of data or content or cause a loss of functionalities or utilities.'"

Comments

The point to subaccounts

[notsoclever]

Subaccounts exist so that you can allow other people to buy games/movies/etc. from your wallet, while limiting the amount of money they spend per month. These TOS restrictions have nothing to do with whether people can use their own (master) accounts on your PS3, or play the games you purchase from your PSN account while logged in to your system, or whatever.

Further, I'm actually glad for them to make explicit a policy of wanting to remove abusive griefers. Lately I've stopped playing PSN games online with non-friends simply because I keep on running into asshats with Bluetooth headsets and too much time on their hands, which make the whole experience horrible. By giving possible consequences for peoples' actions, it makes it possible that people might actually, you know, not be complete dipshits.

Re:The point to subaccounts

[Cruciform]

I've got a headset and it doesn't see any use on PSN at all any more. When I first got on PSN it was pretty good. After Xbox Live it was a breath of fresh air.

But then it started to get tainted too, and now when I log into an online game the first thing I usually hear from the voice comm is "Turn on your headsets faggots."

Yeah, I really wanna chat with that guy.

And on the plus side, on the rare occasion that I do let slip with expletives in a game that's got kids playing, they don't hear me. :)

Re:Typical Sony Fail

[Renraku]

What they're doing is preventing their customers from doing things to them. If little Timmy met someone off of PSN and got himself murdered, lawsuit papers would be on their way to SCEA before his body was even cold and in the grave. Seeing as how most judges and juries care about children, that's pretty much a blank check for the parents of the kid. They're protecting themselves.

And modders? I'm looking at you. There are many of you who would sue when you run that update that SCEA put out and had your system bricked. Lots less legal hassle/bills to nip it in the bud. I doubt anything will change in the way that they are doing things.

Also, there are people who use the PSN for posting obscene/offensive material that could be accessed by minors. See the first paragraph.