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PlayStation 4 plays used games, says Sony
by Steve Watts, Feb 21, 2013 12:15pm PSTSince the PlayStation 4 cat is officially out of the bag, Sony is seeing fit to squash some persistent rumors about its new console. The system won't require an always-on Internet connection, and Sony has also now confirmed that it won't be blocking you from playing used games.
Sony Worldwide Studios head Shuhei Yoshida told Eurogamer very plainly that "used games can play on PS4." He said the "general expectation by consumers" is that when they "purchase physical form, they want to use it everywhere."
Another source at the event reportedly said that the patent that seemed aimed at blocking used games wasn't ever meant for the PS4 at all. That still leaves the question of what the patent was intended for, but at least it won't stop you from borrowing a friend's game.
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Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation 4 can play used games, and a patent discovered last month that seemed to imply otherwise wasn't meant for PS4 at all.
Sony has confirmed that the PlayStation 4 can play used games, and a patent discovered last month that seemed to imply otherwise wasn't meant for PS4 at all. : Shacknews
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Game devs have been including EULAs with console games that attempt to place computer software-like limits on console games, but I have no knowledge of any real efficacy there. I remember reading some console game EULAs in the back of the manuals, and they attempted to seize dominion over rental and borrowing without permission and authorization. Again, I've heard nothing of courts asserting the publishers rights against resalers, so I think those words don't have much pull. If they did, you could include the language with a DVD.
What it comes down to, is that unlike computer software (made to run on computers) console games, much like DVDs, Blu-rays, Music CDs (minus rental rights), still exist under the protection of the consumer's right to resale under the first sale doctrine which was originally a court-created rule later codified into copyright law. At some point, there will likely be a full merging between all forms of media, and everything from books to music to movies to games will be digital, but until then, console game makers will just have to deal with the realities of life and evolve as the market does.
At some point, I hope that Title 17 undergoes an full rewrite to protect both consumer and authorship rights in the digital age. As it is, it's pushing more and more focus on contract, which puts the consumer to a huge disadvantage, especially in the digital age.
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