Today, Playstation Network members who attempt to sign in to their account will be prompted with a new Terms of Service Agreement and a new privacy policy as their accounts will now be renamed a Sony Entertainment Network account.
SEN (formerly Qriocity) is the name given to Sony’s online streaming services – games, music, movies, and ebooks. Now, users will have to use their SEN accounts to sing into PSN.
According to Sony, this is a rebranding exercise with the explicit purpose of pulling everything under one umbrella. They want everything that they offer to all run through the same account.
So, what’s going to change for PSN users? Not much, really. This is a change in name only – usernames and passwords will all remain untouched. A software update will bring the name change on both the PS3 and eventually the new Vita handheld, but interestingly enough, not the PSP.
This rebranding comes after a tough 2011 for Sony’s Playstation Network. A giant hack took down the PSN for weeks last Spring, and users were less than pleased regarding how Sony handled the whole situation.
Check out the full email to users for details on a few policy changes:
On February 7, 2012, Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (“SNEI”) will update its Terms of Service and User Agreement and its Privacy Policy. As a part of this update, your “PlayStation®Network account” will be renamed a “Sony Entertainment Network account”
The first time you sign in to your Sony Entertainment Network account on or after February 7, 2012, you will be asked to agree to the new Terms of Service and User Agreement and Privacy Policy with SNEI if you wish to continue using your Sony Entertainment Network account. Please review all changes to the Terms of Service and User Agreement and Privacy Policy carefully before indicating your agreement.
In particular, these are some of the additions and changes we have to these agreements:
New terms for parents of minor, subaccount holders regarding the limitations of chat parental controls. Your reacceptance of the Terms of Service and User Agreement and Privacy Policy affirms your consent to the sharing of your child’s data that may occur if your child utilizes certain communication functionalities on PlayStation devices such as PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita systems.
New terms that explain the location-based services offered through the PlayStation Vita system. For parents of minor, subaccount holders your reacceptance of the Terms of Service and User Agreement and Privacy Policy affirms your consent to your subaccount holder’s user of these services on the PlayStation Vita system.
A description of our “What’s New” section, which provides topical information about our services and advertisements.
Information about pre-ordering content.
The name of your “PlayStation Network account” is changing to a “Sony Entertainment Network account.”
You may click here to review the changes to the Terms of Service and User Agreement and you may click here to review the changes to the Privacy Policy.
The rebranding of PlayStation Network accounts to Sony Entertainment Network accounts is a change in name only. Your username or password will not change, nor are we asking you to change them. On Sony Computer Entertainment’s PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Vita systems, this rebranding will occur in connection with software updates for these devices. (Note, this change will not be applied to the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) system at this time.)
This transition is based on Sony’s goal to enhance its unique digital entertainment offering. As a series of these activities Sony started last September, PlayStation Network will be aligned with “Sony Entertainment Network.” This helps us get closer to our goal of establishing a global comprehensive network platform of services across games, movies, music and more, all accessible from one convenient account.
The Sony Entertainment Network account also enables use of Sony’s compelling non-game services such as Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited and PlayMemories Online (currently called Personal Space) across a variety of network-connected devices. If you do not agree with the new Terms of Service and User Agreement or Privacy Policy, you may decline to accept them, and you will no longer be able to access your account.
If you wish to close your account or request a refund of your wallet balance, or have any questions, please contact Customer Service by clicking here. For more information, please click here.
Thank you very much for being a customer!
