Yes, this is part of the federal copyright law. And this is something the average joe has a hard time wanting to understand or just plain refuses to. Which ultimately makes things harder for them in the long run. Most large retailers follow this law, or are supposed to for video games, movies, and CD's in regards to return policy. The content you are buying on CD, dvd, or the video game has been copyright protected by the studio that made that product. This is also why most stores have the same or similar return policy on these things.

Say you buy Spiderman on DVD. Sony Pictures owns the copyright to the content on that disc. NOT YOU. You are basically being given a license to use it at home when you buy it. (Thus the "You cannot use this for promotional use, in public areas...blah blah blah...content they say on the disc.) You get a defective one, and try returning it. Most business policies state they are to be returned ONLY for the same item. So let's say you get that one too and its still defective and they have no more on hand.

It's at this point it's a judgment call depending on store policy. If they do decide to give you the money back, in most cases that store is taking a huge risk. It has NOTHING to do with customer service. It has to do with complying with federal law. You can thank the endless piracy for these types of rules and policies.

It doesn't matter if you think you are Wal-Marts or Targets or another retailers biggest payday. They look at the bigger picture, not the smaller one where Aunt Edna doesn't know how to copy DVD's or CD's. Let alone be able to turn on her hearing aid. And piracy is a big issue. Just ask the RIAA, MPAA, etc. It doesn't matter if you think they are money hungry parasites or not. The fact is, piracy is HUGE.

This is FEDERAL LAW. It's all part of the DIGITAL MILLENNIUM COPYRIGHT ACT.

Whining to the companies about it won't do a thing as they are just enforcing the law because if they don't they can pay huge fines and get into all kinds of trouble. You need to whine to the government about it. Which means nothing will still change anyways.

I just find it amusing how people think the companies should break federal copyright law for better customer service. Yeaaahhhh. Only if you are willing to pay the fines which usually are in the THOUSANDS of dollars range. This is the governments deal. Not the retail businesses deal. Some just don't seem to understand that.

"Ohhh but they are big corporations. They can afford it."....yeah. So let's pass those bills onto the consumer and drive up prices. How does that sound?! Amazing how the ones doing the most complaining have zero clue about how retail or the government work.