Brigette Honaker  |  January 31, 2019

Category: Electronics

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teenage girl playing with her playstation gameA recent class action against Sony claims that the entertainment company designs their PS4 games to bait children into making purchases.

Plaintiff Christina Lopez, the Californian mother of “D.W.,” reportedly experienced the issue when her son made in-game purchases on his PlayStation 4 in 2017.

D.W. allegedly made an account on the PlayStation Network which allowed him to play Fortnite, a popular video game.

Fortnite utilizes V-bucks as in game currency and also offers V-bucks packages through the PlayStation store. V-bucks are used to purchase cosmetic items and upgrades in the game, and the game allows this currency to be purchased for real money through the PlayStation store.

Without his mother’s knowledge, D.W. allegedly used Lopez’s debit and credit cards to make more than $1,000 in purchases to buy V-bucks.

Lopez argues that Sony makes it impossible for minors, who should not be able to have PlayStation Network accounts under the user agreement, to seek refunds for their unauthorized purchased which causes harm to the actual cardholders.

“[Sony’s] transactions with minors also necessarily involve entering into contracts with minors regarding property that is fundamentally not in the minors’ possession or control, since SIE collects funds from debit cards, credit cards, PayPal accounts, or other sources, some of which are not in the minor’s possession or control,” the Sony class action lawsuit argues. “In fact, some of the funds are in the possession and control of, invariably, the minor’s parents and the card issuers.”

Fortnite is reportedly not the only game with which Sony allows unauthorized in-game purchases. Lopez claims that minors “often” make purchases in “numerous” other games without the permission of their parents despite using their parents’ debit or credit cards.

The Sony playstation in-app purchases class action also claims that this is not simply a case of children getting into trouble. Instead, the problem is allegedly tied to Sony’s willingness to exploit children and bait them into making thousands of dollars in purchases which cannot be refunded.

“[Sony] is aware that minors purchase V-Bucks from the online store. This is desired, as Fornite is a tremendous moneymaker for [Sony]. Many children have purchased thousands of dollars of Game Currency over the course of a brief period of time,” the Sony class action lawsuit claims.

Lopez seeks to represent a Class of individuals who paid for a purchase of game currency made by their minor children without their knowledge or permission.

Although Lopez seeks to represent a nationwide Class, she claims that the laws of California apply to the Class due to Sony’s terms and conditions.

These terms reportedly state: “The laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-law rules, govern this agreement and any dispute between you and the Sony Entities.”

The Sony class action lawsuit seeks damages, restitution, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.

Lopez is represented by Keith Altman and Solomon Radner of Excolo Law PLLC.

The Sony Playstation In-Game Purchases Class Action Lawsuit is Lopez v. Sony Interactive Entertainment LLC, Case No. 3:19-cv-00507, in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California.

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113 thoughts onSony Class Action Says PS4 Games Bait Kids Into Making Purchases

  1. Christine says:

    Please add me. Sony also has banned my son from the ps network and has stolen the games, skins, etc all extras that my 16 year old son purchased. He now cannot play any game he purchased in his account because he’s no l9nger allowed to login. Also, they will not tell us ehy he was bsnned in the first place. Whatever happened innocent until proven guilty. There is no appeal process either. Once youre banned that’s it. And ypu cant even see why.
    Please contact me regarding adding me to a second class action lawsuit regarding this.

  2. gina martinez says:

    please add me. it’s happened to me several times!

  3. Kristen Carter says:

    Add me I just called PlayStation because my son spent $415 and I told them I did not authorize that payment and they denied me my money back I’m so angry and the transaction were all back to back in 1 minute like they know no adult would do that

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