Gamers Sue Sony Over “Do Not Sue” End-User License Agreement

A group of Sony Playstation Gamers filed a class action lawsuit this week against the electronics maker after Sony recently attempted to silence their users with a new clause found in the PlayStation Network end-user license agreement.

The new agreement stipulates that users can not file a lawsuit against Sony if their personal details, including credit card information is stolen during a successful hack attempt. Sony added the clause in September after its PlayStation Network (PSN) was hacked and user information was leaked online. Following the company’s new clause the same stipulations were added to products from gaming developer EA and software giant Microsoft.

The clause change gave Sony users just 30 days to leave the network before it went into place and according to the lawsuit those users were not notified of the change with no opt-out option made available.

The lawsuit claims that Sony has engaged in unfair business practices by offering users no choice but to either agree to the terms or go without the online network after already purchasing Sony Playstation 3 gaming consoles.

The lawsuit allows anyone who purchased a PS3 before the addition of the clause in September to join in the lawsuit.

If the lawsuit ends in a guilty verdict against Sony it will likely mean that other company’s will follow suit including Microsoft and its Xbox Live network.

Sony changed their end-user agreement after they were sued by various gamers when their network was hacked in April 2011.

Perhaps Sony should work harder at creating a more secure network for their users who spend hundreds, even thousands of dollars on their products rather than spending all of their efforts protecting themselves against a shoddy built online gaming platform.

Do you think iron-clad end-user agreements that give no rights to users should be illegal or is Sony acting within their rights by providing such a clause?