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 ]
News tagged with: #game outright #digital services #digital download #explicitly states #digital games #digital storefront #suddenly disappear #gavin newsom #recently signed #digital goods #online storefronts #video games #tv shows #made unavailable #ebooks

Other Publishing stories related to: 'Steam now explicitly states you don’t own the digital games you’re buying'


Dwell Hires Yahoo Commerce Head to Run Digital Ops

Dwell Media has brought on former Yahoo VP of Commerce Brandon Huff to head its growing digital operations, including e-commerce efforts the company has been pursuing  Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #dwell media


HoZ buys Atkins duo

Head of Zeus has pre-empted a high-concept love story by author Dani Atkins, with deals following... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Insight: How Three UK Publishers Are Finally Making The Most Of Digital

For the first time in a long time some optimism is returning to the publishing industry. Circulation numbers and revenues were decimated by the rise of the internet and while the future for print still looks shaky, the companies behind newspapers and ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-05-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long time #uk publishers #publishing industry


PublishNews Brazil: Brasilia Debates the Future of Digital Publishing

In this week's PublishNews Brazil, we look at Brasilia's debate on future of digital publishing, FNLIJ's awards for kid's lit, and Brazil's turn as the focus of the Gothenburg Book Fair in 2014. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #publishnews brazil #digital publishing


Digital Pioneer Goes Back to Print: No Ebook of Stephen King’s Latest

Despite his early support for ebooks, Stephen King latest novel, Joyland will be published in print only, with no digital version anticipated. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #stephen king #early support


Argentine import laws stifling digital sales

The Argentine government’s economic protectionism is thwarting the growth of ebook sales,... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #ebook sales


L,B's Blackfriars to publish crowd-sourced digital novel

Little, Brown's Blackfriars digital-only imprint will publish a novel created by authors... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-20 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Century buys Washington DC-set crime novel

Century has acquired a crime novel set in 1990s Washington DC by US author Neely Tucker. Jack... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Customers should have free choice over ebook buying, says EIBF

There is no convincing technological reason preventing ebook interoperability between different... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Free The Press Campaign Trying To Raise $660 Million To Buy Tribune Co.

The folks at The Other 98% really, really don't want to see the Koch brothers to buy the Tribune Company. The non-profit organization has launched a fundraising campaign on Indiegogo to make a bid for the publishing company, which owns the Chic ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-05-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #koch brothers #tribune company #non-profit organization


A Peek at Hearst’s Digital Strategy

NEW YORK—Chris Wilkes admitted he was initially uncertain of how Hearst's digital efforts would play out—he even made sure to keep his old job when he started his work on tablets. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital strategy #digital efforts


MEI Portico Version 2.5 for Adobe Digital Publishing Suite Now Available

Jenkintown, PA (May 14, 2013) — MEI Portico™ version 2.5 has been released today as part of Managing Editor Inc.’s lineup of solutions for digital publishers. MEI's Portico delivers a tailored app experience ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #released today #managing editor #digital publishers


Microsoft buying Barnes & Noble's Nook Media? Microsoft insider says no

An anonymous Microsoft source calls talk about Microsoft planning to buy the Nook Media branch of Barnes & Noble 'nothing more than a rumor.' Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nook media #barnes noble


Are Publishers in South Korea Gaming Their Bestseller Lists?

Allegations of stockpiling and best-seller list manipulation have rocked the publishing world in South Korea as publishers combat decreasing book sales. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2013-05-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bestseller lists #publishing world #south korea


Orion Children's buys middle-grade debut

Orion Children's Books has acquired a debut novel described as "a fresh and exciting new... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #orion children


An App That Turns Digital Reading Into A Social Activity

Dotdotdot imagines its users as one big book discussion group, with everyone wielding the same highlighter. Instapaper and Readability have both found success offering a simple, core interaction: save an article online to read somewhere else later. With both you can also follow what friends... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2013-05-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #social activity #social sharing


What would Microsoft buying Barnes & Noble's Nook business mean?

According to documents found by website TechCrunch, Microsoft is offering $1 billion to buy the digital assets of Nook Media. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2013-05-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #nook business #website techcrunch #digital assets #nook media


Microsoft may buy Barnes & Noble's Nook unit for $1 billion

According to internal documents obtained by the website TechCrunch, Microsoft has offered $1 billion for the digital assets of Nook Media, Barnes & Noble's digital book venture.According to internal documents obtained by the website TechCrunch, Microsoft has offered $1 billion for the... Continue reading at Los Angeles Times

[ Los Angeles Times | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #$1 billion #website techcrunch #digital assets #nook media #barnes noble #nook e-readers #third-party devices


Hearst Magazines appoints president of digital media

Hearst Magazines has created the position of president of digital media and appointed Troy Young from Say Media to the role. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #hearst magazines


Microsoft 'offers' to buy Nook Media

Microsoft has offered to buy Nook Media for $1bn, according to reports. TechCrunch cites... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2013-05-09 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #$1bn