So, I don't know how recently Sony actually announced this, but apparently, starting on February 7th, the 'Playstation Network' is being re-dubbed as the 'Sony Entertainment Network.' Their official line is that it's 'based on Sony's goal to enhance its unique digital offering.' And it's true that, aside from the name change, there doesn't seem to be any major alterations in the mix.
My problem is, apparently the change is coinciding with an update to the Sony Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Now, because we, (and the companies, let's be honest), know that people don't ever read those, it does create the option for some pretty sneaky changes to be made. Sony already got hit once late last year, when they changed the amount of PS3 systems that could be activated on one account from five to two, and that, apparently, it had something to do with either a change made to one of those policies, or them acting on a clause in one of those policies that nobody would have known about.
I just worry that what's relatively simple now - the reduction of consoles per account and a name change - could become far more sinister in the future. Could they drastically alter the makeup of their network, based on an agreement that people blindly sign because, even if they did read them, they probably wouldn't be able to make heads or tails of a lot of it? Should companies come up with another way to present these policies that one has to agree to, or will there really come a time when we'll be obliged to read those things to make sure we're not jumping headlong into something that could screw us over?
Side-note: My information on this came from a pretty short article, found here:
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/720500/sony-entertainment-network-to-replace-psn-accounts/
If there is a piece that explains this better, I'd love to read it.
My problem is, apparently the change is coinciding with an update to the Sony Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Now, because we, (and the companies, let's be honest), know that people don't ever read those, it does create the option for some pretty sneaky changes to be made. Sony already got hit once late last year, when they changed the amount of PS3 systems that could be activated on one account from five to two, and that, apparently, it had something to do with either a change made to one of those policies, or them acting on a clause in one of those policies that nobody would have known about.
I just worry that what's relatively simple now - the reduction of consoles per account and a name change - could become far more sinister in the future. Could they drastically alter the makeup of their network, based on an agreement that people blindly sign because, even if they did read them, they probably wouldn't be able to make heads or tails of a lot of it? Should companies come up with another way to present these policies that one has to agree to, or will there really come a time when we'll be obliged to read those things to make sure we're not jumping headlong into something that could screw us over?
Side-note: My information on this came from a pretty short article, found here:
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/720500/sony-entertainment-network-to-replace-psn-accounts/
If there is a piece that explains this better, I'd love to read it.
