As time moves along, it’s becoming more and more apparent that the little guy/end user is having more and more of their rights and freedoms taken away. For today’s depressing example, we’ll look at Sony and their continual effort to fuck over PS3 users.
Follow me inside for the joyous news…
The latest 3.30 update brings with it 3D support among other things. Those “other” things include bug fixes, stability improvements, and security patches that I’m sure many wouldn’t be opposed to. However, another nasty addition was added within the EULA, essentially saying that you, the rightful owner who paid upwards of $400+ for this piece of machinery, no longer technically “own” it.
In particular, Section 3 of the new EULA states:
From time to time, SCE may provide updates, upgrades or services to your PS3™ system to ensure it is functioning properly in accordance with SCE guidelines or provide you with new offerings.
Some services may be provided automatically without notice when you are online, and others may be available to you through SCE’s online network or authorized channels. Without limitation, services may include the provision of the latest update or download of new release that may include security patches, new technology or revised settings and features which may prevent access to unauthorized or pirated content, or use of unauthorized hardware or software in connection with the PS3™ system.
Additionally, you may not be able to view your own content if it includes or displays content that is protected by authentication technology. Some services may change your current settings, cause a loss of data or content, or cause some loss of functionality. It is recommended that you regularly back up any data on the hard disk that is of a type that can be backed up.
Reading through the drawn out text, Sony is essentially claiming they can push out any update to your PS3 as they see fit, rendering features extinct, deleting content, and more or less destroying your PS3 — all without your consent, approval, or even giving you the chance to at least see it coming.
This crusade for “protection to rights holders” that is polluting various aspects of the technology world are disgusting and downright ridiculous. There is absolutely no reason why Sony or anyone else should have this much control or free will with YOUR purchased product.
I guess the real kicker is that there isn’t anything that end users can do. Sony will almost sarcastically advise those not too keen with future updates to simply not update. Only then, your PS3 becomes a paper weight, unable to access pretty much any network related content.
Perfect. Sony is updating themselves into irrelevance.
