Sony's attempted removal of "purchased" content

Overview

Sony initially announced that it would remove purchased Discovery TV shows from users' libraries due to licensing issues:

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

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. 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:

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

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:

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.