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PlayStation Gamers In The UK Could Claim A Share Of £5 Billion Damages

New legal claim accuses Sony of “ripping people off” by charging 30 per cent commission on digital games and in-game purchases

A legal claim filed at the Competition Appeal Tribunal on Friday could see nearly nine million PlayStation customers in the UK claim a share of up to £5bn in damages. The claim is a collective action against Sony PlayStation, brought by consumer rights expert Alex Neill, who argues that the games console giant breached competition law by unlawfully overcharging PlayStation customers.

The claim sees Sony accused of abusing its market dominant position to impose unfair terms and conditions on game developers and publishers, which results in excessive and unfair prices for consumers every time they buy digital games or in-game content from the PlayStation Store. The claim is that this has resulted in UK consumers being overcharged for their digital gaming purchases by potentially as much as £5 billion over the last six years.

Anyone in the UK who has purchased digital games or add-on content on their console or via the PlayStation Store since August 19th 2016 is included in the claim and is potentially entitled to compensation. The estimated damages per individual member of the class is between £67 and £562 excluding interest.

“The game is up for Sony PlayStation,” commented class representative Alex Neill. “With this legal action I am standing up for the millions of UK people who have been unwittingly overcharged. We believe Sony has abused its position and ripped off its customers.”

Neill went on to say, “Gaming is now the biggest entertainment industry in the UK, ahead of TV, video and music and many vulnerable people rely on gaming for community and connection. The actions of Sony are costing millions of people who can’t afford it, particularly when we’re in the midst of a cost-of-living crisis and the consumer purse is being squeezed like never before.”

Neill believes that companies like Sony need to be urgently held to account to protect consumers from further harm. “This case goes right to the heart of Sony’s business model.

“The drive towards in-game purchases allows companies like Sony to profiteer and abuse their power because they have a captive audience. Sony knows its customers are hooked once they are part of the PlayStation world and it exploits them with exorbitant charges on every digital purchase.

“Collective proceedings like this are vital because they provide the opportunity for us to hold large companies to account on behalf of consumers who deserve to be treated fairly and get back what they’re owed.”

Digital distribution domination

Alex Neill is advised by law firm, Milberg London. The partner leading the case is Natasha Pearman who said, “Sony dominates the digital distribution of PlayStation games and in-game content; it has deployed an anti-competitive strategy which has resulted in excessive prices to customers that are out of all proportion to the costs of Sony providing its services.

“This claim is only possible because of the opt-out collective action regime that was introduced by the Consumer Rights Act 2015; a regime which Alex fought to introduce. We are looking forward to working with Alex and making sure that the regime achieves its aims of protecting and compensating consumers.”

The action is funded by Woodsford, a leading Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) firm, so class members will not have to pay any of the costs of the action themselves. Charlie Morris, chief investment officer for Woodsford commented, “Woodsford is proud to be funding Alex Neill and we are determined to help her hold Sony to account for its anti-competitive behaviour. Litigation finance of the kind provided by Woodsford is fundamental to these actions; it levels the playing field, provides consumers with equality of arms and affords access to justice so that big businesses like Sony cannot take advantage of consumers in this manner without consequence.”

Robert Palmer QC and Fiona Banks of Monckton Chambers act for Alex Neill, instructed by Milberg.

Anyone who has purchased digital games or in-game content in the UK on their console, via the PlayStation Store since 19 August 2016, is automatically included and potentially entitled to compensation. They do not need to take any further action at this stage. Those impacted are encouraged to sign-up to be kept up to date on the case.

Written By

Steve is an award-winning editor and copywriter with more than 20 years’ experience specialising in consumer technology and video games. With a career spanning from the first PlayStation to the latest in VR, he's proud to be a lifelong gamer.

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