Steam Adds the Harsh Truth That You're Buying 'A License,' Not the Game Itself (arstechnica.com)
- Reference: 0175234983
- News link: https://games.slashdot.org/story/24/10/11/202239/steam-adds-the-harsh-truth-that-youre-buying-a-license-not-the-game-itself
- Source link: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/10/steam-now-reminds-you-that-it-really-sells-a-license-for-a-digital-product/
> California's [3]AB2426 law , signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom Sept. 26, excludes subscription-only services, free games, and digital goods that offer "permanent offline download to an external storage source to be used without a connection to the internet." Otherwise, sellers of digital goods cannot use the terms "buy, purchase," or related terms that would "confer an unrestricted ownership interest in the digital good." And they must explain, conspicuously, in plain language, that "the digital good is a license" and link to terms and conditions.
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> Which is what Valve has now added to its cart page before enforcement of these terms was due to start next year. The company has long made it clear, deeper inside its End User License Agreement (EULA), that a purchase is a license, and those licenses cannot be resold, which avoids issues of one's right to resell a game. Now it is something that every user sees on every purchase, however quickly they click-through to get to their download.
[1] https://news.slashdot.org/story/24/09/26/1645241/californias-new-law-forces-digital-stores-to-admit-youre-just-licensing-content-not-buying-it
[2] https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2024/10/steam-now-reminds-you-that-it-really-sells-a-license-for-a-digital-product/
[3] https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca_202320240ab2426
About #$%2 time. (Score:3)
Good. This law should be nationwide. Enough with trying to trick people. It will be interesting to see if it affects sales. Most people seem to be okay with not owning the music and videos the consume. But then again those don’t cost $30-$80 a pop to access.
Re: (Score:1)
I know I'm an outlier here but this sort of thing really doesn't bother me. I get the problem. I understand why it bothers so many people. But for the rest of us, the use case is generally: see game video, see on twitch, buy game on steam, play through until win or bored, never play again. I've never sold a game. I've never bought a used game. How many people really do that? Resold games was a big part of the Gamespot business model but it ultimately failed them.
And while we're here, major software
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Ive bought a couple used games at a reseller in the past, but I've mostly, at this point, sold my games on ebay. I don't have any interest in playing console games anymore, so might as well see who wants them.
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While I never got confused by license vs. ownership, I think it is a good thing to make it clearer for all people what exactly they're throwing their money into. Especially these days where the stuff you're "purchasing" can be stripped away from you for a number of reasons.
Re: About #$%2 time. (Score:2)
Steam also cares less if you actually "own" game, that is not the actual problem. The problem is that this is just a way to waive any liability when you're unable to play your game and games can force you to be connected online, what the california law tried to tackle. Btw i like to play install reinstall games however i please, and owning them is pretty important for that. There are more genres than single player stories you play oncr and never look back
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We've already done through three phases.
Us old folk who used to get physical media and an instruction booklet how to play the game. The concept of blowing $19.99 on a non-tangible item was horrifying. Games also were complete/less bug ridden.
Then we had younger folk who grew up more connected, they no longer purchased the item and understood they'd lose access to it, and would re-pay for the same item if they lost an account password or the like, willingly. Products would also be released incomplete, wit
I find your failure to read the EULA disturbing. (Score:2)
13.1.2 The party of the first part may, at their sole discretion, alter the terms of the agreement at any time. The part of the second part may pray they do not alter it further.
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For those lacking a sense of humour, the above is not actually in the Steam Subscriber Agreement.
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Hurt in a speeder accident? Faulty motivator? You MAY be entitled to CREDITS! Call the Offices of Godwi Nslaw, Attorney. (HUTTESE NA BOODOO)
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Wait, no, I think I meant Poe Slaw.