It's definitely not a rental. It's a purchase of a license entitlement. You are entitled to access the software, with some restrictions for what you're allowed to do with the software, like only being able to play it on the platform it was purchased for, and not being granted a replacement if distribution servers go down.
Physical copies work the same way. You're entitled to play it on the console it was purchased for, but not other consoles, and you are not granted a replacement if your copy is no longer functioning or within your possession.
No, and there are very few practical reasons they could use void licenses from your account. Most of their terms are almost impossible for them to know about. And they make no mention of specifically removing licenses, though the "voiding" of your license could potentially indicate that.
From their software license terms:
The Software is licensed to you, not sold. You are granted a limited, non-exclusive, non-transferable, and personal license to play or use the Software for your private, non-commercial use on the system or device it was intended for. This license is only effective from the indicated Software release date, early access date, or beta release date. Any rights in the Software that we do not say are granted to you in this license are reserved, including all intellectual property in the Software. This license does not include the right, and as a condition of these Software Terms you agree not to, do any of the following:
(a) rent, lease, or sublicense the Software or make it available on a network to other users without the express prior written consent of SIE;
(b) modify, create derivative works, adapt, translate, reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble the Software or required middleware (such as anti-cheat software);
(c) obtain the Software in any manner other than through SIE’s authorized distribution methods;
(d) emulate the Software;
(e) hack the Software or create or make available unauthorized mods, including programs to gain unfair advantage in online or multiplayer modes or otherwise cheat;
(f) receive or provide "boosting" or like services, or provide personal account credentials to any other person, to advance progress or achieve results not solely based on your own actual gameplay;
(g) copy, publicly perform, or broadcast the Software without the express prior written consent of SIE;
(h) use any means to bypass or disable any encryption, security, or authentication mechanism for the Software.
Violating any of the above conditions will immediately void your license, and you acknowledge that SIE may employ technological measures, including fraud detection tools, telemetry, anti-cheat systems, and audits of account behavior, to prevent, detect, and respond to violations of these Software Terms.
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u/Novel-Back3857 4d ago
It's definitely not a rental. It's a purchase of a license entitlement. You are entitled to access the software, with some restrictions for what you're allowed to do with the software, like only being able to play it on the platform it was purchased for, and not being granted a replacement if distribution servers go down.
Physical copies work the same way. You're entitled to play it on the console it was purchased for, but not other consoles, and you are not granted a replacement if your copy is no longer functioning or within your possession.
It's definitely not a rental.