Following the company’s recent introduction of CD copyright technology in the US, which made the user’s PC vulnerable to hackers, Sony has filed a patent that could threaten the market in second hand games.
The patent granted last month would allow Sony to lock a game disc to the first console the technology was played on so that it could not be then be used on another device. Sony has stated in the patent request that the aim is to protect itself from counterfeit software but conceded the technology could also prevent the sale of used software.
Traditional copy protection works by making it more difficult to make more copies of discs. As this does no more than verify that the game disc is authentic, it can be used on any number of devices.
When questioned, Sony said it had no plans to use the technology in any of its current games consoles or the upcoming PlayStation 3.
A company representative said that it was just part of the company’s ordinary research and development programme and did not mean it planned to use the technology.
Sony said it did not object to people selling their games after playing them, as log as consumers abided by the terms and conditions.
This includes a person removing all parts of the game from their console or computer first.
The spokesman also said that Sony recognised there are several companies who sell second hand games such as Game.
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