Sony is set to confront a substantial legal challenge involving a mass lawsuit amounting to £6.3 billion ($7.9 billion) over allegations of the PlayStation maker exploiting its dominant market position, resulting in unjust pricing for consumers. A London tribunal, ruling on Tuesday, mandated Sony Interactive Entertainment (SIE) to address the lawsuit filed last year on behalf of nearly 9 million individuals in the United Kingdom who made digital game or add-on content purchases through Sony's PlayStation Store.
Consumer advocate Alex Neill, spearheading the case against Sony, values the claim at up to £5 billion ($6.23 billion), with additional interest. Neill contends that Sony, by mandating the exclusive buying and selling of digital games and add-ons through the PlayStation Store—imposing a 30% commission on developers and publishers—has abused its dominant position. The lawsuit alleges that customers, as a result, have incurred elevated prices for games and additional content.
Sony's legal team countered, asserting that the case was fundamentally flawed and should be dismissed. However, the Competition Appeal Tribunal ruled in favor of allowing Neill's case to proceed, with the stipulation that individuals who made PlayStation Store purchases after the case's 2022 filing should be excluded from the proposed claimant class.
In response to the ruling, Neill emphasized that this marks the initial phase in ensuring consumers receive the restitution they deserve. Sony has not provided an immediate comment in response to the tribunal's decision.
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