Sony's attempted removal of "purchased" content: Difference between revisions
mNo edit summary |
fixed reference formatting |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
==Overview== | ==Overview== | ||
'''[[Sony]]''' initially announced that it would remove purchased Discovery TV shows from users' libraries due to licensing issues:<ref name=":0">https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/psvideocontent/</ref><ref>https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/technology/sony-playstation-discovery-shows-removal.html</ref><blockquote>As of 31 December 2023, due to our content licensing arrangements with content providers, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Discovery content and the content will be removed from your video library. | '''[[Sony]]''' initially announced that it would remove purchased Discovery TV shows from users' libraries due to licensing issues:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Discovery Entitlements Affected Titles |url=https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/psvideocontent/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[PlayStation]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=PlayStation Will Delete Purchased Discovery Shows |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/06/technology/sony-playstation-discovery-shows-removal.html |url-status=live |website=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><blockquote>As of 31 December 2023, due to our content licensing arrangements with content providers, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Discovery content and the content will be removed from your video library. | ||
We sincerely thank you for your continued support. | We sincerely thank you for your continued support. | ||
| Line 9: | Line 9: | ||
==Ownership concerns regarding digital media== | ==Ownership concerns regarding digital media== | ||
Unlike physical media, digital content is often subject to licensing agreements that can change over time. This is not the first time PlayStation has removed content; in 2022, it removed StudioCanal films and TV shows in Germany and Austria due to licensing disputes.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/8/23199861/playstation-store-film-tv-show-removed-austria-germany-studiocanal</ref> These actions raise questions about the permanence of digital purchases and whether consumers truly "own" the content they buy. PlayStation's terms of service explicitly state that access to purchased content is contingent on ongoing licensing agreements:<ref>https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/psn-terms-of-service/</ref><blockquote>'''10.2.''' Except as stated in this Agreement, all Content provided through PSN is licensed on a non-exclusive and revocable basis to you for your personal, private, non-transferable, non-commercial, limited use on a limited number of PlayStation Devices or other devices in the country in which your Account is registered.</blockquote>Every transaction on the PlayStation Store is, in reality, the acquisition of a license that grants temporary and revocable access to content, rather than a permanent transfer of ownership. The core issue lies in the use of the term 'purchase,' which misleadingly implies full ownership, when in fact, users are only granted conditional access to content that can be revoked at any time due to licensing agreements or other restrictions. | Unlike physical media, digital content is often subject to licensing agreements that can change over time. This is not the first time PlayStation has removed content; in 2022, it removed StudioCanal films and TV shows in Germany and Austria due to licensing disputes.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=John |date=8 Jul 2022 |title=PlayStation Store removes purchased movies from libraries after service shutdown |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/7/8/23199861/playstation-store-film-tv-show-removed-austria-germany-studiocanal |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[The Verge]]}}</ref> These actions raise questions about the permanence of digital purchases and whether consumers truly "own" the content they buy. PlayStation's terms of service explicitly state that access to purchased content is contingent on ongoing licensing agreements:<ref>{{Cite web |title=PLAYSTATION NETWORK TERMS OF SERVICE AND USER AGREEMENT |url=https://www.playstation.com/en-us/legal/psn-terms-of-service/ |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[PlayStation]]}}</ref><blockquote>'''10.2.''' Except as stated in this Agreement, all Content provided through PSN is licensed on a non-exclusive and revocable basis to you for your personal, private, non-transferable, non-commercial, limited use on a limited number of PlayStation Devices or other devices in the country in which your Account is registered.</blockquote>Every transaction on the PlayStation Store is, in reality, the acquisition of a license that grants temporary and revocable access to content, rather than a permanent transfer of ownership. The core issue lies in the use of the term 'purchase,' which misleadingly implies full ownership, when in fact, users are only granted conditional access to content that can be revoked at any time due to licensing agreements or other restrictions. | ||
==Sony's reversal== | ==Sony's reversal== | ||
Due to consumer backlash, Sony reversed its decision to remove over 1,300 Discovery shows following an updated agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, which grants users access to the content for at least an additional 30 months:<ref name=":0" /><ref>https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playstation-will-not-delete-discovery-tv-shows-after-all</ref><blockquote>Due to updated licensing arrangements, the Discovery content removal planned for December 31, 2023 is no longer occurring. We appreciate your ongoing support and feedback.</blockquote> | Due to consumer backlash, Sony reversed its decision to remove over 1,300 Discovery shows following an updated agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, which grants users access to the content for at least an additional 30 months:<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=21 Dec 2023 |title=PlayStation will not delete Discovery TV shows after all |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/playstation-will-not-delete-discovery-tv-shows-after-all |url-status=live |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=[[Games Industry.biz]]}}</ref><blockquote>Due to updated licensing arrangements, the Discovery content removal planned for December 31, 2023 is no longer occurring. We appreciate your ongoing support and feedback.</blockquote> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Latest revision as of 15:37, 15 March 2025
Overview[edit | edit source]
Sony initially announced that it would remove purchased Discovery TV shows from users' libraries due to licensing issues:[1][2]
As of 31 December 2023, due to our content licensing arrangements with content providers, you will no longer be able to watch any of your previously purchased Discovery content and the content will be removed from your video library.
We sincerely thank you for your continued support.
Thank you,
PlayStation Store
Ownership concerns regarding digital media[edit | edit source]
Unlike physical media, digital content is often subject to licensing agreements that can change over time. This is not the first time PlayStation has removed content; in 2022, it removed StudioCanal films and TV shows in Germany and Austria due to licensing disputes.[3] These actions raise questions about the permanence of digital purchases and whether consumers truly "own" the content they buy. PlayStation's terms of service explicitly state that access to purchased content is contingent on ongoing licensing agreements:[4]
10.2. Except as stated in this Agreement, all Content provided through PSN is licensed on a non-exclusive and revocable basis to you for your personal, private, non-transferable, non-commercial, limited use on a limited number of PlayStation Devices or other devices in the country in which your Account is registered.
Every transaction on the PlayStation Store is, in reality, the acquisition of a license that grants temporary and revocable access to content, rather than a permanent transfer of ownership. The core issue lies in the use of the term 'purchase,' which misleadingly implies full ownership, when in fact, users are only granted conditional access to content that can be revoked at any time due to licensing agreements or other restrictions.
Sony's reversal[edit | edit source]
Due to consumer backlash, Sony reversed its decision to remove over 1,300 Discovery shows following an updated agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery, which grants users access to the content for at least an additional 30 months:[1][5]
Due to updated licensing arrangements, the Discovery content removal planned for December 31, 2023 is no longer occurring. We appreciate your ongoing support and feedback.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Discovery Entitlements Affected Titles". PlayStation. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "PlayStation Will Delete Purchased Discovery Shows". The New York Times.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Porter, John (8 Jul 2022). "PlayStation Store removes purchased movies from libraries after service shutdown". The Verge. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "PLAYSTATION NETWORK TERMS OF SERVICE AND USER AGREEMENT". PlayStation. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Dring, Christopher (21 Dec 2023). "PlayStation will not delete Discovery TV shows after all". Games Industry.biz. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)