Sony files patent for new tech to stop second hand games

[Dodece]

Some ideas ought not be patented, because the mere suggestion is both damaging and damning. Without the used market not only do consumers suffer, but the industry as a whole suffers. The second hand market reinforces the first hand market in countless ways. Second hand sales not only facilitate a larger marketplace as a whole, because more consumers are able to afford to game in the first place. Second hand sales also allow the sellers to invest proceeds from those sales into purchasing new games. Any suggestion that effectively decreases the total number of potential consumers, and decreases primary sales. Is a suggestion that shouldn't be made.

The irony in this thread thus far is that the people who don't see a problem for themselves. Since they do not buy used games, or sell used games. Are being oblivious to the fact that this market provides dividends to them even if they do not participate. This market increases the size of the player base, and funds the primary market. If you remove this market. Less consoles get sold, fewer games get sold, and that means you have to pay the difference one way or the other. Be it fewer titles to choose from, or a higher price at the register. It also stands to reason that the overall quality would probably plummet.

If you need a concrete example what do you think would happen to the automobile industry if such a scenario were to play out in that market. Gas prices might go down for awhile, but you would end up carrying more of the infrastructure costs. Service stations would have to charge more, because they would be servicing fewer patrons. Repair costs would rise, because fewer people would need the servicing in the first place. Your own infrastructure costs would skyrocket. Everyone pays registration, and licensing fees, and those are basically taxes to upkeep the roads. Your taxes would have to increase to make up the difference for those that are no longer paying.

The point I am making is that killing the second hand market would be really bad for you as a gamer. In the end it would be bad for the supplier as well. Even filing this patent damages the market. It decreases faith in the safety of the market. At least for Sony's market, because even if it isn't implemented people cannot have faith that it will not be implemented mid stream. Sony has shown a willingness to redesign the core functionality of its machines on the fly.

Filing this patent is a fundamentally stupid act.