The PlayStation Network (“PSN”) is owned and operated by Sony Interactive Entertainment. To play games on PlayStation consoles, buy games from the PlayStation Store, make in-game purchases, or play games published on the PlayStation Network, gamers are required to agree to the PlayStation Network Terms of Service and User Agreement. Sony Interactive Entertainment and PlayStation may be violating its users' consumer speech rights by including terms in its User Agreement that prohibits users from making any statements that, in Sony's sole discretion, harm the PlayStation brand or the PlayStation Network community. Additionally, Sony reserves the right to terminate your account or licenses to play the games you purchased, or initiate legal action against you, if you make a statement or do anything that Sony believes harms the PlayStation brand or PSN community. This means that if you wrote a negative review of the PlayStation Network online, Sony could prevent you from using the PlayStation Network or accessing and playing the games you purchased. California law prohibits these types of terms in consumer contracts. If you have a PlayStation Network account and purchased a game from the PlayStation Store or made an in-game purchase in a PlayStation Network game within the past year, you may qualify for a claim under a California consumer speech law of up to $2,500.
This is a case about consumer rights. We allege that the PlayStation Network Terms of Use Agreement contains a clause that requires PlayStation Network gamers to waive their right to make any statement about the PlayStation Network or the PlayStation Brand. We are representing clients in individual arbitration claims against Sony and PlayStation for violating a California law which prohibits these types of contract terms, as well as under California’s consumer protection law.