A class action lawsuit against Sony Group Corp (NYSE:SONY) is expected to go ahead after a UK tribunal threw out the Japanese conglomerate’s attempts to dismiss the case.
The Competition Appeal Tribunal said in a statement on Tuesday that it was satisfied that the authorisation and eligibility conditions had been met for the case, and granted a collective proceedings order.
Consumer rights campaigner Alex Neill filed the class action lawsuit against Sony last year, accusing the company of over-charging for products at their PlayStation store.
The class action lawsuit claims Sony has a monopoly on the sale of digital games and add-on content through its control of the PlayStation store.
The lawsuit argues that Sony charges “excessive and unfair prices” that are “out of all proportion” to its costs.
It also claims Sony charges publishers and developers unfair levels of commission, amounting to 30% on every purchase of digital games and in-game content on the PlayStation stores.