Sony tweaks PSN EULA to protect against class-action lawsuit
updated 03:15 pm EDT, Fri September 16, 2011
New EULA arrives alongside a mandatory update
Sony has reportedly modified its PlayStation Network end-user license agreement to help shield the company from class-action lawsuits. The company is currently in the process of pushing mandatory updates for the PSN service, though the update requires users to agree to a new set of terms that prohibits subscribers from joining a class-action proceeding.
"Any dispute resolution proceedings, whether in arbitration or court, will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class or representative action or as a named or unnamed member in a class," the agreement now reads, according to excerpts posted by the Examiner.
Users are left with a way to opt out of the clause, however they must send a written letter within 30 days of the notification. Very few users are expected to take the time to draft a letter to give themselves the right to participate in class-action suits against the company.
Sony has yet to publicly acknowledge the move or provide a reason for the changes, however the company has been met with several lawsuits following the PSN outage that resulted from hacking attempts. Insurer Zurich American recently attempted to distance itself from the situation, claiming it was not responsible to protect the gaming company from lawsuits and other legal problems surrounding the breach.
The company is said to be already facing at least 55 class-action filings, along with investigations from a number of government agencies.
