2ndhand sources being legislated & bullied out of exista

[krisjohn]

A few months back I saw I sign at a swap-meet that said that anything even resembling Playstation games was banned from sale. I was never able to qualify that statement (Does it include Dreamcast games, Mega CD, N64, Atari, all software, CDs, what?) but was still frustrating to see that Sony had basically bullied a charity organisation into being afraid to allow anyone to sell any secondhand games because they don't have the expertise to spot a copy.

 

This weekend I was told, and saw a sign, in a two different charity shops that (on the advice of laywers) they will not be selling any electrical or electronic equipment any more. Nothing that has a current running through it. This definately includes consoles, but also technically includes cartridges. CDs, tapes, disks, fine - carts not so much.

 

Apart from some charity shops and swap-meets that are slow to change, this only leaves reputable pawnbrokers (able to test equipment) and garage sales. We only have two major chains of pawnbrokers locally, neither of which are interested in the old stuff.

 

I get the feeling that my hobby is being pushed underground due to corporate self-interest and clueless politicans. Anyone else noticed the same thing, and anyone got ideas what to do about it?

[Fretwobbler]

Apart from some charity shops and swap-meets that are slow to change, this only leaves reputable pawnbrokers (able to test equipment) and garage sales.  We only have two major chains of pawnbrokers locally,

 

Firstly, I too am disgusted at what you have just reported.

 

Secondly, AFAIK, Sony or anyone else cannot place restrictions on the second hand sale of goods that are licensed by them. They certainly cant in England thats for sure. For example.....when I want to sell my 5 year old car....I'm not allowed because I didnt build it?????? thats utter bollocks.

 

 

Thirdly, your lucky to have a reputable 'chain' od pawns in America/Australia(sorry I cant determine where you from???). In England that just dont exist....only independant scummers that rip you off for Gold.

 

Adam

[General Atarian]

What's next, "Oh, I am sorry You cant buy a used car anymore"

 

Ridiculous

[Gunstar]

I've never seen this, but in the long run I don't think it will work. Is Sony going to have people policing every swap-meet in the country to try and locate some poor little swap-meet vendor who is selling used PSX discs? Yeah right There's no way. The only thing this might effect is shops like Goodwill that are national chains. The thing is, with E-bay and Yahoo! online auctions, and sites like Atari Age, I usually trade or by stuff through them, dealing one on one with people anyway and I go to swap-meets less and less. I really don't think there's much to worry about. Although, now that I know Sony is doing something as LUDICRIS as this though, I'll never buy another Sony product or software. They just lost one customer that they just gained a little while ago...I'm now going to sell off my Playstation and games. I will NEVER support a company that goes to lengths like this when they make money hand over fist on their products already. I already will never by a NINTENDO product, ever, becuase of their underhanded ways. Shame on you Sony; you suck.

[krisjohn]

Is Sony going to have people policing every swap-meet in the country to try and locate some poor little swap-meet vendor who is selling used PSX discs?

Okay, quick clarification. Sony aren't telling the charity/community organisations that run the swap-meets that they can't sell legitimate secondhand games. However, several markets have already been prosecuted because stall holders have been selling illegal copies of games. I do not contest the fact that most playstation games sold in swap-meets are illegal copies. Since these swap meets are run by people with little or no technical knowledge in the electronic gaming area, they simply can not tell a copy from an original. Seriously. Not even a bit. Also, they can't afford to be prosecuted. The end result of bullying and ignorance is that secondhand computer games get banned wholesale.

[russ]

man, this is truley a bad day.