Sony is erasing digital libraries that were supposed to be accessible "forever"

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Sony’s decision to shut down Funimation’s digital service and revoke access to “forever” streaming copies bundled with physical anime discs has reignited anger over what it really means to “buy” digital media. Commenters argue that DRM and revocable licenses mean consumers don’t truly own what they pay for, fueling both calls for stricter consumer-protection laws and a renewed moral justification for piracy and physical-media hoarding as the only reliable forms of long-term access.

Ownership, Licenses, and “Forever” Claims

  • Many argue that if “buy” doesn’t mean durable ownership, the product is effectively a rental and should be labeled as such (“license,” “rent,” “time‑limited license”).
  • Several see Sony’s “forever” marketing and later shutdown as deceptive or outright fraud/theft, especially since people paid for a DVD plus a digital copy.
  • Others counter that nothing can literally be forever; companies die, brands change hands, and obligations often stop at bankruptcy.
  • There’s pushback to that: Sony is alive and profitable, so using shell games (mergers, service shutdowns) to shed obligations is seen as illegitimate.

Piracy, Ethics, and Practicality

  • Strong sentiment: “If buying isn’t owning, pirating isn’t stealing.” Many say only DRM‑free or pirated copies are truly “owned.”
  • Some insist piracy still deprives rightsholders of income and is morally akin to theft/trespass, even if nothing physical is taken.
  • Others argue a pirated copy is often not a lost sale and is closer to copying a book or reading over someone’s shoulder.
  • Widespread view that piracy increasingly offers a better user experience (no ads, no removals, no DRM) than paid services, especially for anime and sports streams.

Physical Media vs Streaming/DRM

  • Many recommend buying physical media and ripping it for personal archives; some explicitly design NAS/Jellyfin setups for this.
  • Counterpoints: physical media degrades, modern Blu‑ray/4K DRM (AACS, SGX, HDCP) makes legal ripping harder, and even discs can be effectively revoked.
  • Still, physical is seen as more durable and less censorable than streaming libraries that can silently edit or vanish.

Legal, Regulatory, and Contract Ideas

  • Proposals include:
    • Ban the word “buy” for revocable licenses; require explicit durations (“rent for 5 years”).
    • Mandate minimum support periods and/or escrow/insurance to fund continued access or refunds.
    • Require DRM‑free downloads or automatic public‑domain release when services shut down or rights aren’t renewed.
    • Tie obligations to copyright term (if copyright persists, access obligations persist).

Consumer Trust and Broader Implications

  • Many say this cements their move to piracy or DRM‑free stores; others vow to stop giving Sony (and similar platforms) money.
  • There’s worry that broad “we can remove anything anytime” ToS clauses make digital “purchases” fundamentally untrustworthy.