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 ]
Shonda Rhimes is the creator of the TV shows 'Grey's Anatomy,' 'Private Practice,' and 'Scandal.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-11-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
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In the last week or so, YouTube has been reaching out to the various networks that operate businesses on the platform, implementing new procedures for how these companies handle copyright violations and contracts. Several new details have now emerged on those discussions. Going forward,... Continue reading at AdWeek
[ AdWeek | 2013-10-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
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For a small monthly fee, consumers are used to getting unlimited access to all types of content: movies, TV shows, music, news, video games. Could that same model soon become popular in the world of publishing? Given the success of Netflix in video and Spotify in music, it's inevitable that... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2013-10-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The digital publishing platform will let fans write, publish, and sell the stories they've written based on popular books, TV shows, and more. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oyster, a fledgling mobile service for Spotify-style on-demand books, has raised $3 million in funding led by Peter Thiel's Founders Fund. Oyster, which is still a work in progress, will let users of its mobile app access, discover, and read an ever-growing range of titles and genres, all on... Continue reading at Fast Company
[ Fast Company | 2012-10-11 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Even with attendance capped at 130,000 by the fire marshal, the San Diego Comic-Con International remains the granddaddy of all comics conventions. It’s the biggest pop culture event in North America—comics are the core of an event that also showcases movies, toys, video games, science fiction,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly
[ Publishers Weekly | 2012-07-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Author G.P. Taylor says 'children's literature has gone too far' and advocates a ratings system like that for movies or video games. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor
[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2012-07-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Google took a cue from Amazon's Kindle Fire announcing the Nexus 7 tablet optimized for content from Google Play including books, games, TV shows, movies, apps, and magazines. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-06-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The UK's biggest bookstore chain has announced that it will start selling Kindles alongside other digital services from Amazon. Waterstones stores will let Kindle owners digitally browse books in-store and link up with special offers, tying into the chain's plans for substantial renovations that... Continue reading at Engadget
[ Engadget | 2012-05-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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The iTunes Store is the most popular retail outlet in the United States for buying music, and has become a digital bazaar, selling everything from TV shows and movies to ebooks and audiobooks. Continue reading at PC World
[ PC World | 2012-03-02 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Jan Berenstain and her husband, Stan, published their first Berenstain Bears book in 1962. Three hundred titles about the family of bears that deal with everyday problems appeared, as well as videos and TV shows.Jan Berenstain, who with her husband, Stan, made up one of the most successful... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times
[ Los Angeles Times | 2012-02-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital services and expansion into emerging economies are leading Pearson’s economic... Continue reading at The Bookseller
[ The Bookseller | 2012-01-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
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