A class action lawsuit against Sony, potentially valued up to 6.3 billion pounds ($7.9 billion), claims the PlayStation manufacturer exploited its overpowering market position to charge consumers ridiculous pricing. A lawsuit was filed against Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) last year on behalf of around nine million British consumers who purchased digital games or add-on items via the PlayStation Store.
The suit against Sony is being brought by consumer advocate Alex Neill, who has previously worked on campaigns. It has a potential worth of up to 5 billion pounds ($6.23 billion) plus interest. In court documents last month, her attorneys stated that the case's total damages may reach 6.3 billion pounds. She claims that the business exploited its overpowering position by demanding that digital games and add-ons be purchased and sold exclusively through the PlayStation Store—which takes a 30% commission from publishers and developers.
Also Read: PlayStation Store Black Friday Deals: Best Deals On PS5/PS4 Games
Sony Fails To Stop Lawsuit Over PlayStation Store
The class action lawsuit suggests that throughout the last six years, PS Store titles and DLC have been overcharged to customers by £5 billion ($5.9 billion) plus interest. It also says that the action has impacted about nine million individuals. If the lawsuit is successful, the potential damages for each individual could range from £67 ($84) to £562 ($704).
Sony attempted to have the lawsuit blocked, claiming that it was "flawed from start to finish," but the CAT has now approved the case's trial. The panel did, however, order that those who made purchases from the PlayStation Store after the lawsuit was filed last year be excluded from the proposed claimant class. While they cautioned that payment might not arrive for several years, Neill and her coworkers are attempting to get Sony to resolve the dispute as quickly as possible so that all parties can receive their money on schedule.
Alex Neill, the class representative for the case claims about the following about the lawsuit (source):
This is the first step in ensuring consumers get back what they’re owed as a result of Sony breaking the law. PlayStation gamers’ loyalty has been taken advantage of by Sony who have been charging them excessive prices for years. It is significant that the competition court has recognized Sony must explain its actions by ordering them to trial. With this action, we are seeking to put a stop to this unlawful conduct and ensure customers are compensated.
The UK's Consumer Rights Act of 2015 established an opt-out collective action mechanism, which is the basis for the claim. It facilitates the submission of private lawsuits by customers and companies for losses incurred as a result of violations of competition laws on behalf of a large class of claimants, in this example, PlayStation Store customers. The US judge dismissed a case last year accusing Sony of engaging in anti-competitive activities because the plaintiffs could not establish that the business violated the Sherman Act, which bans monopolization.