Sony faces antitrust suits in UK, Portugal, Netherlands, Mexico, US over disc phase-out

kotaku.com

Sony faces antitrust lawsuits in UK, Portugal, Netherlands, Mexico, and US over allegedly forcing PlayStation gamers to buy digital games only via PlayStation Store, with disc phase-out worsening claims. Plaintiffs allege Sony's 30% store commission and removal of retail download codes eliminate competition and inflate prices. Sony denies wrongdoing. The US case settled for $7.85 million in April; other cases are ongoing. Physical discs once enabled secondhand sales and retail discounts, limiting Sony's control. The central legal issue is defining the relevant market; disc phase-out strengthens arguments that no alternative to Sony's store exists.


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Sony faces antitrust suits in UK, Portugal, Netherlands, Mexico, US over disc phase-out | News Minimalist