The Dutch consumption group Massaschade & Consumer is demanding interactive entertainment of Sony, and Dutch players can register to join the demand. The demand alleges that Sony is taking advantage of its solid market position selling online playstation games.
Massasche & Consumer states that digital games are, on average, 47% more expensive than physical copies, although Sony probably has lower costs to distribute digital games. The group argues that this price difference is due to how the PlayStation store and Sony control over the game market works. The reason the group can demand is that there are no other options to buy playstation games. This is different from other platforms such as Microsoft Store or Epic Games Store, which is a key part of the company’s case. This is also the reason why this case could probably be taken to the United States.
Google and Apple lost demands due to their respective stores. It is a monopoly when another business cannot compete with yours, and if Sony is blocking the purchases of games outside the PlayStation store, it can be demanded for trying to monopolize. It could be seen as an unfair commercial practice.
This legal case is similar to those of Portugal and the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom’s Court of Competition recently approved a related claim, establishing a legal example to prosecute large companies that dominate the market under European competence laws. These laws require that companies with a large market share promote fair competition.
Massasche & Consumer is allowing PlayStation users in the Netherlands to join the claim for free On the website. A judicial hearing is scheduled by the end of this year. If the demand is successful, it could force Sony to allow other vendors to sell their products in their digital store, changing the way the PlayStation system works.
The cost of digital distribution is much lower than the physicist. Therefore, it seems that Sony can increase digital prices for any other reason than to earn money. If another company could compete with those price increases, it would not be a problem. Sony has a solid position in the market, and limiting user elections, it may seem that the PlayStation store can increase prices unfairly.
The statements that there is not much competition in the PlayStation digital market seem valid, especially when you compare it with the options available to buy games in Xbox and Nintendo. Anyone can buy games for those platforms in other services, so it must compete and maintain a fair price. PlayStation seems to be the only platform that sells its strictly game keys in its official store.
There are already concerns about large technology companies that act monopolisticly, which has led to legal challenges that have failed in the past. However, if this demand is successful, it could have effects beyond the Netherlands. It could encourage people in other places, especially in the United States, to present similar class action demands.
This situation raises a larger conversation about why digital products cost what they do compared to physicists. People often argue that distributing digital products is cheaper than doing and sending physical products. However, price differences with PlayStation games make us ask ourselves if the price of digital games is fair and clear. The demand suggests that, since the digital distribution can save a lot of money, consumers should see lower prices.
Demand could lead to greater transparency and fair prices in the digital games market. This could also encourage the growth of more open digital markets, increase competition and provide consumers with more options at lower prices. On the other hand, if the case is dismissed, it could maintain the current situation, exposing consumers to unfair practices. The results of this case could significantly change the digital games market in the coming years.
Fountain: Massasche and consumes, Tweakers.net
#Sony #overloading #PlayStation #digital #games #collective #demand
