Video game publishers generally aren’t too happy that companies such as GameStop reap huge profits from buying and selling used games, and Sony has devised a way to hobble the system from sapping away sales of its newest PSP shooter — slap DRM on the game’s online mode.

IGN reports that retail copies of SOCOM U.S. Navy SEALs: Fireteam Bravo 3 come with a code gamers need to input to unlock online play. If you don’t have the code, you can buy online access for $20. And those who download the game illegally are out of luck if they want to take the battle online.

Is this a heavy-handed corporate move that will backfire or a valid defense against piracy and resales?

SOCOM Fights Piracy On PSP [IGN]

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