14 DAY TRIAL // Sony has apparently changed the PlayStation 4 Terms of Service and Software Usage Terms for the PS4, effectively banning the resale of games, their sharing, and quite a few other activities concerning both retail and downloadable titles.
The PlayStation 4 won over the hearts and minds of many gamers earlier this year when it confirmed that, as opposed to the Xbox One, the PS4 wouldn't block used games and wouldn't implement any restrictions on customers, who'd be able to share retail games just like on the PS3.
Now, ahead of the PS4's launch this month, Sony has apparently changed the Software Usage Terms agreement in certain European countries.
According to the UK one, Sony has certain limitations over how games can be used on its PlayStation 4.
Limitations on Your Use of Software
- Your license to use Software is a non-exclusive, non-transferrable license to use the Software for private use only on the applicable Authorized Systems (as indicated on the box for Disc-Based Software, in the product description for Software Downloads or otherwise notified by us to you from time to time) and only in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, India, Russia and Oceania. - You must not use Software commercially, broadcast it, charge for its use or make other public performance of it without express permission from us and, if the publisher is another company, additionally from the publisher. - You must not lease, rent, sublicense, publish, modify, adapt, or translate any portion of the Software.
What's more, the resale of a PlayStation 4 game is specifically forbidden by a special entry in the agreement.
Resale
- You must not resell either Disc-based Software or Software Downloads, unless expressly authorized by us and, if the publisher is another company, additionally by the publisher.
Apparently the same restrictions exist for the PlayStation 3 and its own games, although Sony never actually enforced them.
It might be that the company is just putting these legal restrictions in so that it can be covered in case of any problems, but this is still quite worrying.
Update: Sony's Shuhei Yoshida confirms that PS4 owners can resell their games but offers no explanation about the changed terms of service.