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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HarperCollins' parent company News Corp has acquired Harlequin Enterprises from the Canadian... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-05-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In a blistering opposition motion, 33 state attorneys have made their feelings known to the Second Circuit: Apple, they say, is blatantly stonewalling. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author Harper Lee gives her permission to issue her classic novel To Kill A Mockingbird as an audio book and ebook. Continue reading at BBC World
[ BBC World | 2014-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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German publisher Bastei Lubbe is the latest overseas publisher to use digital distribution to enter the U.S. market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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William Heinemann is to publish a book looking at productivity and why “some people seem to... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Much as predicted at the time of its acquisition by Amazon, Comixology is removing in-app purchasing from its iOS apps, eliminating the 30% sales commission to Apple. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-26 00:00:00 UTC ]
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An analysis of the digital and print sales of seven companies between 2011 and 2013 provides more evidence that the days of rapidly rising ebook sales, and plunging print sales, are likely over for the trade book market. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Quercus CEO and cofounder Mark Smith will be leaving the company, but aiding in the transition. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Quercus CEO and cofounder Mark Smith will be leaving the company, but aiding in the transition. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Fox Chapel Publishing has bought rights to 1,400 books from New Holland Publishers U.K. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Simon & Schuster Children’s Books has acquired a new animal fantasy story for readers... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon has reached an agreement to acquire Comixology, the dominant digital comics marketplace, and a platform that has been instrumental in driving the growth and popularity of digital comics. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Blackwell’s unveiled a new “multi-million-pound” digital learning service for... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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With day one of the London Book Fair not yet closed, another book is emerging as a hot title: a memoir by "New Yorker" contributor Lauren Collins which has the working title, "French Lessons." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Sphere has acquired an "incredible" true Holocaust story "about three pregnant... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-08 00:00:00 UTC ]
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"We cannot deny we are in an extraordinary transition," said author Anthony Horowitz, opening the sixth annual Publishing for Digital Minds Conference at the London Book Fair. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Read the complete 2014 London Book Fair Digital Spotlight in the Scribd reader below. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The proliferation of digital devices in the classroom and the reinvention of education from traditional models to new, more interactive and individualized means of learning will change education publishing faster and farther than other segments, says executive director Bill McCoy of IDPF. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For Cenveo Publisher Services, 2014 is the year digital strategies must deliver in terms of profits for its publisher clients. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Walker Books has acquired a middle-grade title from debut author Michael Byrne. Lottery... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2014-04-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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