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Sony Patents Anti-Piracy RFID Tech

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by Kimberley Wallace on January 03, 2013 at 02:44 PM
19,668 Views
122

 

We’re not new to the war on piracy and used games, but it appears Sony is taking a new step for prevention.

A Neogaf user found a patent application for an “Electronic Content Processing System.”  Just what would this system do? It would tie game discs to specific user accounts and/or consoles. An RFID tag on any given disc would be read by the console to determine if the game had been used before on another console and/or account and would block you from playing it. 

Obviously, this is an issue for those who buy used games and/or share them between friends and family. It seems that Sony is trying to cut back on piracy with the PlayStation 4 on the horizon. Still, the filing of a patent is not necessarily an indication that the technology will actually be used. Sony owns many other anti-piracy patents, like USPTO #6,782,477, which have never been used.

Thanks Aaron Quixote for the news tip!

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Comments
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  • by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:50 PM
    I wish there were better solutions to anti piracy other than this method. It's mainly just an inconvenience for other legal situations.
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:50 PM
    ohh sony why?
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:50 PM
    Anti-Piracy/Limiting used games sales = More Piracy. Why don't companies realize that? The more diffcult/more annoyance, the more will turn to alternatives or piracy. Just look at PC for example...
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:51 PM
    they forget that not all consumers make enough money to afford this idea
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:51 PM
    The inevitable downfall of the videogame industry. Flying too close to the sun all while being greedy, eventually customers will stop whining on the internet and find another hobby besides buying their games.

    I've always wanted to be a painter...
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:51 PM
    I don't see the problem with used games. In fact, this HELPS games in a lot of ways. All this will do is result in games selling less copies...
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:51 PM
    Saw this earlier this morning, just curious how GameStop is going to handle this. GI is owned by GS right? I was also curious about how the actual retail store will hold up when it is kinda obvious that like digital gaming is highly likely going to become mainstream in the next few years. What will we be able to pick up at the stores once that happens besides hardware? Maybe they will sell just like PSN, XBLA, and Nintendo Cards with download codes or something? I don't know.. interesting thing though, very interesting.
  • by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:52 PM
    guys the way to stop piracy is to cater to your consumer not screw them over a rail with stuff like this. valve anyone?
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:52 PM
    Sony digging it's own grave.
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:52 PM
    It doesn't surprise me that they'd preemptively file something like this if only to be prepared for a worst-cast scenario or to block their competitors from being able to do something too similar. The likely-hood of the ps4 not playing used or borrowed (and loaning will be the biggest issue against) is slim to none I'd say.
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:54 PM
    Misleading title. Sony patents things all the time - all technology companies do so they can lay claim to the tech. That doesn't mean they'll use it. In fact they have said explicitly in the past that they do not plan on using this type of tech in their systems any time soon because they know they need used game sales. There's nothing in this patent to suggest it will be implemented in the PS4.
  • by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:55 PM
    I know who's not getting a ps4..........
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:56 PM
    RIP Sony, we didn't even get to see the PS4...Such a shame. You will always be remembered...
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:58 PM
    I would be okay with this if they got rid of the high price tag on games. If devs/sony didnt need to worry about people stealing or buying used then surely they could lower the price. the only reason i buy used is the price and with all this buy new or you cant play online BS thats been going around we might as well buy new anyway.
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 02:58 PM

    Oh god, this could be.... The rise of SOPA/PIPA? Nah, not exactly. But this is pretty odd.

  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:00 PM
    I'm not at all worried that the next Playstation might lock out used games because if it did, Sony would lose a large portion of its sales due to people not buying used games. In fact, if this does actually happen, GameStop and all other locally owned game stores will cease to exist.
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:00 PM

    Well if this actually makes in the final product I know I won't get a PS4. I understand why piracy is bad and it is difficult to stop but there has to be a better way than this.

  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:00 PM

    I buy all of my games new or at least I try to

  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:01 PM
    As much as I don't like piracy, this, like many other patents like it, would be kind of taking things a little too far. I like exchanging games with friends and the online pass that most games do don't usually get in the way of that because I usually play for the story or campaign of a game.
  •
    by Thursday, January 03, 2013 at 03:01 PM
    There has to be a better way. Used games are just a way of gaming life; people aren't trying to cheat the developer or the publisher. Why smack everyone when only a small amount of people serious, regular acts of piracy?
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