The Cultural Review

Digital Ownership

2 articles

A digital library interface showing the Lord of the Rings films being removed, symbolizing the loss of purchased digital content and consumer frustration.
Media

Google revokes access to purchased Lord of the Rings films

A Google Play customer who purchased The Lord of the Rings Extended Editions in 2022 recently found the films vanished from their library, with no refund offered.

Claire Donovan·August 10, 2026
A single glowing optical disc on a pedestal in a dark, dusty archive filled with obsolete physical media, symbolizing the importance of preservation.
Media

Digital decay is real: physical media offers a reliable archive.

By January 2028, Sony will cease producing physical optical discs for new PlayStation games, a decision that fundamentally redefines consumer ownership in the digital age.

Andre Silva·July 2, 2026