Sony clamps down with PSN user agreement

[GrayFox]

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6199672.html

While it has yet to be seen if the PlayStation Network is ready to handle the traffic that will accompany next week's launch of Little Big Planet and its sharing tools for user-generated content, Sony Computer Entertainment America has made sure its online service is ready to go from a legal standpoint.

Last week SCEA sent out amendments to its PlayStation Network terms of service and user agreement. PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable users will need to agree to the new rules if they want to play their games online, participate in Home, buy games from the PlayStation Store, subscribe to a game, or download a patch or other game update.

The amendments include a number of eyebrow-raising new provisions dealing with player privacy and user-created content. Under the "Code of Conduct" section, SCEA added a provision that players can't tell anyone their real names or "any other personally identifying information." The rule also applies to names of other people or businesses.

And while gamers can't go spreading their names around, the user agreement stats that Sony can share gamers' personal information with third parties "for the purpose of providing... access to PSN content." It does not specify if that content includes advertising as well as games, movies, and other downloadable offerings.

The code of conduct also now specifies that anyone who uses PSN gives SCEA "express consent to monitor and record" their activities, and that the company may do so as it sees fit. And while the terms state that SCEA can turn over user information like an Online ID and IP address to "the appropriate authorities," they also state there is no requirement or expectation that the company monitor or record any activity over the network, and that SCEA can remove content or communication from the service without notifying users.

That's not the only thing SCEA can do without notification (or consequence) under the new agreement.

"Some content may be provided automatically without notice when you sign into PSN," the agreement reads. "Such content may include automatic updates or upgrades which may change your current operating system, cause a loss of data or content or cause a loss of functionalities or utilities. You authorize SCEA to provide such content and agree that SCEA shall not be liable for any damages arising from provision of such content or maintenance services. It is recommended that you regularly back up any data located on the hard disk that is of a type that can be backed up."

Finally, SCEA added a new section on "user material and information" that allows the company to provide "others" with information about users' communication and gameplay over PSN. Further, the company can distribute or publish that information "for any legitimate business purpose" without payment to the users. The example given is for tournaments or ranking purposes.

The section also deals more directly with users' creations, which presumably includes everything from custom-made levels in Little Big Planet to songs penned using the Guitar Hero World Tour studio mode.

"To the extent permitted by law, you authorize and license SCEA a royalty free and perpetual right to use, distribute, copy, modify, display, and publish your User Material for any reason without any restrictions or payments to you or any third parties," the agreement states. "You further agree that SCEA may sublicense its rights to any third party, including its affiliates and subsidiaries. You hereby waive all claims, including any moral rights, against SCEA, its affiliates and subsidiaries for SCEA or any other third party's use of User Material to the extent permitted by applicable law."

Representatives with Sony did not return GameSpot's request for comment.

Good luck with that game, having SCEA screw you in the face and theres nothing you can do about it.

[andre1028]

Thank god that I've sold my soul to Microsoft than Sony.

[Italian Jew]

Thank god that I've sold my soul to Microsoft than Sony.

Amen

[Lux]

Don't really care..........something bad will happen to someone else not me

[Havok]

Thank god that I've sold my soul to Microsoft than Sony.

QFT.

[Game Freak]

My english --> bad so umh i saw the post but i didnt rlly understand much so

Whats so bad about this

[Wrathek]

if you pirate shit on your ps3, you're gonna get fucked if you're connected to the internet.

that and i guess those ppl that use linux on their ps3 may get bothered.

[Italian Jew]

and if the mandatory updates ruin any of your files or setup, you are SOL

[Game Freak]

oke now i get it ....

WHAT WHY WTF

man thats b*llSh*t

[Mammal]

Didn't Google try something like this?