Could this happen to us in this sim?

[pappychksix 3,564]

Updates to terms of online service prohibit players from giving out names online, allow communication to be monitored, give Sony free rein to sell user-created content.

 

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.

 

HERE is the web site link:

Edited October 23, 2008 by pappychksix

[Syrinx 13]

I don't understand legalese.

[column5 63]

Basically Sony is tightening up some EULA terms on Playstation Network. Its all boilerplate, really, CYA stuff.

 

To answer the question in the thread title, anything could happen with any product, but no, this is not going to happen with ThirdWire games.

[pappychksix 3,564]

Basically Sony is tightening up some EULA terms on Playstation Network. Its all boilerplate, really, CYA stuff.

 

To answer the question in the thread title, anything could happen with any product, but no, this is not going to happen with ThirdWire games.

 

Thanks Don...when my son showed me this I thought...WOW...could this ever happen here? Glad to know you are on top of it!!! Regards, Pete

[column5 63]

Thanks Don...when my son showed me this I thought...WOW...could this ever happen here? Glad to know you are on top of it!!! Regards, Pete

 

Well its my opinion only of course, I have no inside knowledge, but we know TK a bit after the last 6 years and we know that his purpose with these sims is to make them as open as possible. Any change from that would be impossible to comprehend.

[JediMaster 451]

If TK had his own mod delivery a la Steam, that would be a different story. He does not, nor will he in the future (unless something big happens), so the point is moot.

[eraser_tr 29]

With his budget, I doubt he could afford the lawyer to draw up **** like that, even if he was one of these rabid EA/sony DRM nuts. But of course TK still cares about his customers so I would never expect to see anything like this from him.

 

NFG I understand legalese. Translated to english (english or american) means "Sony owns your computer, internet connection and intellectual property and will ruin your life if you exercise your consumer rights."

 

And fighting **** like that is why I want to be a lawyer.

[WarlordATF 1]

Wow, i am glad i quit playing Star Wars Galaxies last month, they are part of Sony Online Entertainment which was handed over to PSN a few months ago. This is getting pretty sad, now we need a company to build a firewall type system to keep corporations out of our computers.

 

I don't support illegal stuff like id theft or kiddie smut but i also don't want people poking around my computer either, Windows Update messed up my video drivers so bad a few weeks ago that i had to reformat and start over.

 

In our case, I really don't think we would see anything like this from TK. He does not seem like that type of person. Just look at his products like the FE Expansion Pack or WOI, if he was going to confiscate third-party mods and re-sell them he could have added alot to both of those products, but he had new models made instead.

 

Sony will get away with that because once you have the PS3 there is no other OS for it, At least with PCs we have choices of OS. Microsoft still gets away with murder with Vista, but Part of the reason i like the 32bit Home Premium Version is that it does not have Bitlocker and alot of the other DRM stuff that comes with Vista Ultimate.

 

This kind of personal rights violations will just get worse until people stop buying from these companys, when profits fall or a lawsuit wins a really good settlement then things will start to get better again, but we have come a long way from the freedoms we had when i started messing with PCs in the late 80s - Early 90s!