Sony Patent Blocks Used Games

by Dexter Jaekel

JANUARY 3, 2013

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Sony has filed for a patent that will allow it to block used games on its console. A post by NeoGAF member, gofreak, claims that the patent was filed on December 9th, 2012. Sony Computer Entertainment Japan plans to accomplish its goal of locking discs to individual consoles with Near Field Communication technology. Essentially, when the disc is placed in the console, the NFC chip will then link the two together and prevent the disc from playing on other consoles. It is still unclear as to whether or not Sony will allow you to play these games on multiple consoles as long as the proper PSN account is logged into.


Quote from the Patent:
"According to the present embodiment, realized is the electronic content processing system that reliably restricts the use of electronic content dealt in the second-hand markets. As a result, the dealing of electronic content in the second-hand markets is suppressed, which in turn supports the redistribution of part of proceeds from sales of the electronic content to the developers. Though in the following description a game application (AP) is exemplified as the electronic content, the present embodiment is similarly applicable to various kinds of electronic content such as an office suite, images, and music content."
 

In other words, Sony would like to put the same level of copyright on their games as most Music, Movie, and Software companies do. Good news for Sony, Bad news for gamers. I personally am a firm believer in buying games new so that the developers and producers can reap the benefits. However, I do believe that I would have a serious problem if I couldn't lend a great game to a friend so that they would be able to enjoy the experience as well. Maybe, Sony will give us the ability to buy access to the game for $10 or so. I'm not saying that I want to make my friend pay to be able to play my games, but, like it or not, this seems to be the road that we are on. I think it would be a complete waste if there wasn't some way to unlock the content for other consoles without having to hack the systems.


Quote from the Patent:
"By employing the game playing system 1000 according to the present embodiment, the use permission tag 220 together with the game disk 210 is supplied to the user, and the use permission tag 220 actively determines the use permit/rejection of electronic content. Thereby, the use of game AP stored in the game disk 210 can be restricted as appropriate according to the attribute of a reproduction device. Consider, for example, a case where used is a game package 200 distributed in the second-hand market. Then the ID of reproduction device for the game disk 210 differs from the legitimate use device ID stored in the use permission tag 220, so that the game disk can be reproduced in a mode which is predetermined for those bought and sold in the second-hand market. Also, for example, a content key may be supplied to the reproduction device 130 and the encrypted game AP may be decrypted using the content key only if the reproduction device ID matches a legitimate use device ID. Hence, use of game APs bought and sold in the second-hand market can be eliminated."

With all that legal jargon, Sony is basically saying that the discs will be linked to the system. Sony's goal for this is to "[Eliminate] games bought and sold in the second-hand market." A bold statement to make against companies such as Gamestop and Game X-change, but these are also the companies that have kept the gaming market from reaching its full potential. We live in an age when games are looking and playing better than ever, and yet we still see Developers going out of business. This is due to the fact that neither the publishers, nor the developers receive a dime from used game sales, even though they are sold for only $5 less than a brand new copy, in most cases. It is also due to piracy of games, which should never be done, and only hurts the videogame industry.

Sony's official statement on the matter is that "The Company does not comment on rumor and speculation."



Written by Dexter Jaekel
Editor-in-Chief of TheTechFixation.com