Steam now explicitly states you don’t own the digital games you’re buying

Have you ever bought an app or game from a digital storefront, only for it to suddenly disappear and become inaccessible without warning? It’s both confusing and frustrating, which is why some governments are stepping in and hoping to make things clearer for consumers. Gavin Newsom, governor of California, recently signed a new law (AB 2426) that involves the purchasing of digital goods and services. Under the new law, online storefronts that sell digital copies of video games, music, movies, TV shows, and ebooks must be explicit as to whether customers actually own what they’re purchasing. Some digital services are already adapting to the new regulations, which aren’t set to be enforced until next year. Steam is one such company, having already implemented a change in the Steam storefront that explicitly notifies customers that they’re purchasing “a license for the product on Steam” and don’t actually own the game outright. What does that mean for you? Well, a license is just permission for you to access content that’s provided by the service (i.e., the game). If the content is made unavailable for whatever reason, you aren’t entitled to access in perpetuity. (As opposed to buying a digital download, in which case you’re buying permission to download and keep said files.) According to Engadget, this new wording in Steam is used in all countries and territories, not just the United States. Further reading: Why digital games can vanish in a heartbeat Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2024-10-11 19:19:30 UTC ]
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Nicholls tells Digital Minds: 'Showrooming is like shoplifting'

Showrooming is just a “genteel form of shoplifting” author David Nicholls told an audience at the London Book Fair Digital Minds Conference this morning (13th April).  Giving a keynote speech at the digital event ahead of the fair's official start tomorrow (14th April), Nicholls spoke of the... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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LBF’s Digital Minds Emphasizes “People Over Pixels”

If one theme resonated at the London Book Fair's Digital Minds conference, it was that even in the age of digital, we need to remember we are selling books to humans. The post LBF’s Digital Minds Emphasizes “People Over Pixels” appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Firefly buys new Kat Ellis novel

Penny Thomas, publisher at Wales-based Firefly Press, has acquired world English rights to Purge, a YA novel by author Kat Ellis. The novel, described as a powerful and romantic excursion into futuristic fantasy, is about a 17-year-old called Mason who is kicked out of his community. Forced to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Headey buys film rights for 'H is for Hawk'

Film rights for Helen Macdonald’s H is for Hawk (Jonathan Cape) have been acquired by actress Lena Headey, who stars in the hugely successful television series “Game of Thrones”.   The deal was brokered by Emily Hayward-Whitlock at Knight Hall Agency Ltd on behalf of Jessica Woollard at The... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair 2015: Brazil’s Race to Digital

What is holding back ebooks in Brazil? PublishNews Brazil's Carlo Carrenho looks at three surmountable hurdles, and a digital book market waiting to take off. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Women Buy Books, Men Review Them

VIDA's annual survey of literary publications found that book reviewing and literary coverage is still dominated by men. The post Women Buy Books, Men Review Them appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London Book Fair 2015: At Digital Minds, Publishers Urged to Experiment, and Learn

The seventh annual Publishing for Digital Minds Conference kicked off the London Book Fair, with the main exhibits officially opening on Tuesday. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
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EFF wants to change copyright law to preserve older games

The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is currently seeking a law change in the US that would enable third parties to preserve older games that are no longer supported by their publisher in ways that, currently breach copyright law. Continue reading at Stuff

[ Stuff | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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London’s Literary Platform on A Half-Decade of Digital Change

The founders of the UK's Literary Platform reflect on the changes they've seen in digital publishing over the 5 years since launching their consultancy. The post London’s Literary Platform on A Half-Decade of Digital Change appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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I B Tauris signs title on history behind Game of Thrones

I B Tauris has commissioned a book which explores the medieval world that inspired George R R Martin’s A Song of Ice and Fire series and the television programme based on the books. Carolyne Larrington, a tutor in medieval English literature at St John’s College Oxford, will look at how Martin... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital Content Convention Launching in NYC in 2015

Stream Con NYC will take place from from October 30 to November 1 at the Jacob K. Javits Center. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Ka-Pow! Digital Spotlight 2015

“Explosive.” That’s how Scribd chief technical officer and cofounder Jared Friedman described the rollout of the company’s latest addition to its ebook subscription service—a collection of comics and graphic novels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Olympians: Digital Spotlight 2015

If you’re a regular attendee of the London Book Fair, you probably remember the Olympia London, the fair’s home through 2005. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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E-books: Product or Service? Digital Spotlight 2015

In early March, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) issued a major ruling, invalidating reduced value-added tax (VAT) rates on ebooks in France and Luxembourg. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Making Digital Proofreading Easier for Illustrated Books, Textbooks

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[ Publishing Perspectives | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An Editor at Heart: Digital Spotlight 2015

For all of the innovative new digital products aimed at consumers, digital has continued to revolutionize the behind-the-scenes work of publishers. But editorial staff will tell you that they could use a little more help. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sony Debuts New DRM for Publishers: Digital Spotlight 2015

In recent ears, the big question surrounding digital rights management (DRM) software in publishing has been whether or not publishers should use it at all. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt Book Fair Unveils New Opener: Digital Spotlight 2015

Through countless discussions, experiments, challenges, and conferences, the digital transition has been front and center in the publishing industry for over a decade now. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2015-04-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Multi-State Lawsuit Filed Against Orbital Publishing Group

The company, along with a network of other entities, is accused of charging as much as twice the regular subscription price and pocketing the difference. The post Multi-State Lawsuit Filed Against Orbital Publishing Group appeared first on Folio:. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Walker buys picture book series from Ardagh and Elwick

Walker Books UK has snapped up a new picture book series written “in complete  collaboration” by writer Philip Ardagh and illustrator Elissa Elwick.  Deirdre McDermott, picture book publisher at Walker, acquired the world rights to four books in The Little Adventurers series.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2015-04-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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