Hundreds of TV shows and movies bought through Sony’s Playstation Store will be removed next month, meaning customers who purchased these titles will no longer be able to watch them. According to Variety, customers in Germany and Austria will be affected by the shutdown covering films produced by Studiocanal.
The timing of this news is no coincidence as August 31, 2021, was the date Sony announced it was discontinuing purchases of movies and TV shows through the Playstation Store. At the time, however, the company stated that customers would still be able to have access to any previously purchased content.
Playstation posted a notice on the impending removal of Studioconal content on its website, stating the “evolving licensing agreements with content providers” as the reasoning behind the shutdown. The list of Studiocanal-distributed titles that will be removed includes 314 in Germany and 137 in Austria, according to Variety. In addition, some Lionsgate movies will also be on the chopping block. This includes titles such as Spirited Away, Paddington, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Saw, The Hunger Games, and John Wick.
It’s unclear if customers will receive a refund for any Studiocanal title that was purchased through the store. Sony did not immediately respond to Mashable’s request for comment.
While we like the idea of owning the digital content we purchase, Sony’s recent notice is a reminder that we own the movies we buy…until we don’t. In addition to Sony, Apple is fighting a class-action suit over its use of the term “buy” despite reserving the right to revoke access. But these are far from the only examples, and such content clawbacks go back to at least 2013, and probably earlier.
So keep in mind that the only guarantee that you won’t lose the entertainment you purchase is to buy physical copies.
