{ "story_id": "62f3231a6f5848bf023342c274ea79fb", "desk": "drm3", "revision": 1, "published_at": "2026-09-01T23:00:41.000Z", "content_hash": "b5adc42bb88e866bd508040fbdddc71b591d3e992c71a6d447d1c6fcd2ff7745", "hash_basis": "sha256 over `headline\\ndek\\nprose`, plus `\\n` + the canonical citations JSON when any source is placed, plus `\\n#blog` for blogs", "basis": { "headline": "Gamers Sue Sony Over Digital Game Licenses Under California Law", "dek": "California gamers sued Sony alleging PlayStation's 'Buy' button misleads customers into thinking they own digital games rather than licenses.", "prose": "A group of four gamers filed a lawsuit in June in California, alleging that Sony violated the state's AB 2426 by misleading customers about digital game purchases. [^1]\n\nCalifornia's AB 2426, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom in 2024, requires sellers of digital goods to clearly disclose when consumers receive a license rather than ownership. [^2]\n\nSony, in its August 21 motion, cited Sections 8.4 and 10.1 of its PlayStation Terms, stating that customers purchase a personal license and do not own the product, and that terms like 'buy' and 'purchase' do not imply transfer of ownership. [^3]\n\nThe gamers' lawsuit claims that terms 'Buy Now' and 'Confirm Purchase' appear while purchasing games such as Resident Evil Requiem, NBA 2K25, and Five Nights at Freddy's 4, and that the plaintiffs did not realize they were receiving a revocable license. [^4]\n\nAccording to entertainment data company Luminate, U.S. CD sales surged 16% to 16.3 million units during the first half of 2026. [^5]\n\nStreaming services like Netflix and Spotify offer convenience but require recurring payments for access to a library that changes, whereas physical media involves a higher upfront cost but no ongoing fees. [^6]\n\nThe author, representing a generation that grew up owning physical media like vinyl, CDs, and books, notes that for the past 15 years they have traded ownership for access via services like Spotify and Netflix. [^7]\n\nIn England, retailer John Lewis reported that searches for CD players were up 96% recently, fueled by renewed interest from younger consumers. 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It never makes a claim true." }