In a not so surprising move, Sony have released a mandatory update for the PlayStation 3 which includes changes to the terms of service for the PlayStation Network. The changes make it so users who accept it give up the rights to take part in a class-action lawsuit against them.

The new clauses, termed "Binding Individual Arbitration", mandate that any Dispute Resolution Proceedings, whether in arbitration or court, will be conducted on an individual basis only.

Of course, any outstanding class-action lawsuits filed against Sony still stand, inclusive of the class-action suit filed in April over the PSN security breach. But with this new move, it seems Sony is going further to protect themselves from further litigation should they be hacked in the future. According to some analysts, they are within their legal right to pull this move.