Sony has received a €2 million (US$2.3 million) fine by Italy’s competition regulator (AGCM) for unfair business practices related to the sale of PlayStation 4 consoles.
The AGCM found article 21 (clause 1, B and D, specifically) and article 22 of the Consumer Code to have been violated, adding that this unfair business practice is well-suited to appreciably misdirect the consumer due to the lack of information on a relevant product feature. Specifically, the need to subscribe to the PlayStation Plus service in order to play online multiplayer with the PlayStation 4 console and its PlayStation 4 games, including those purchased via the PlayStation Store.
The AGCM noted that the penetration of this practice has involved a massive amount of customers who purchased the console. Its long duration has been highlighted, too, since the practice has been going on since PlayStation 4 launched on the market in November 2013.
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