# Sony digital ownership consumer controversy > Developing situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/sony-digital-ownership-consumer-controversy > Updated: 2026-11-09T18:39:10.000Z. Sources: 8. Developments: 2. Sony Interactive Entertainment has been awarded the 2026 Shonky Award by the Australian consumer advocacy group Choice. The organization criticized the company’s digital business model, stating that customers are essentially required to “pay to play, but not own.” Choice highlighted that consumers purchasing digital content through platforms like the PlayStation Store acquire a license to access content rather than permanent ownership. This issue gained prominence following an announcement in June 2026 regarding the expiration of a licensing agreement with StudioCanal. This expiration resulted in the removal of over 500 movies and television programs from digital libraries in the UK and Europe, leaving users without access to previously purchased titles. Additional concerns cited by Choice include Sony’s planned cessation of physical game disc production by January 2028 and the discontinuation of support for older hardware, such as the PS3 and Vita. ## Timeline ### 2026-11-09: Sony receives Shonky Award for digital licensing practices Sony received the Shonky Award from Australian consumer group Choice for its digital licensing practices and the removal of previously purchased content from digital libraries. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/sony-receives-shonky-award-for-digital-licensing-practices ### 2026-11-03: Sony Interactive Entertainment receives Choice Shonky Award Sony Interactive Entertainment received the 2026 Choice Shonky Award in Australia due to controversial digital ownership policies and the planned end of physical disc production. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/choice-shonky-awards-name-hisense-ticketmaster-and-sony-among-winners --- Cite as: Sony digital ownership consumer controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/sony-digital-ownership-consumer-controversy