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

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Digital sales surging in Spain

Written By: Paul Rigg Publication Date: Fri, 07/10/2011 - 15:10 The Spanish book trade is preparing for unexpectedly fast growth in digital sales, Liber, the international book fair for the Spanish speaking world has been told. Iría Álvarez, trade manager at Santillana, one of Spain’s largest... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-07 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Adobe Releases Single Edition in Digital Publishing Suite

In an expanded effort to support all of publishers’ app needs, Adobe’s Digital Suite now includes Single Edition capability. The service is available for iPad app creation, and supports apps intended for one time-only publication. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Oneworld buys book from Private Eye journalist

Written By: Katie Allen Publication Date: Thu, 06/10/2011 - 15:25 Oneworld has bought a book by a Private Eye journalist that uncovers how Britain has become a tax haven. Commissioning editor Mike Harpley bought UK and Commonwealth rights to Duty Free: How Britain’s Become a Tax Haven for Big... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-06 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Publishing Scotland to launch digital fund for indies

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 05/10/2011 - 15:21 Publishing Scotland has launched a "Go-Digital Fund" to support Scottish-based book publishers develop their digital programmes and bring their books to a new digital audience. read more Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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State of Maine Sees Highest Tablet Usage for Month of August

Mobile advertising network Jumptap releases a MobileSTAT Report, covering network data for the month of August. Continue reading at Folio Magazine

[ Folio Magazine | 2011-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Spanish book fair looks to digital growth

Written By: Robert Stokes Publication Date: Wed, 05/10/2011 - 15:18 Liber, the 29th International Book Fair for the Spanish speaking world, starts today [5th October] in Madrid and takes place against the backdrop of the launch of Amazon.es, which publishers hope will lead to greater interest... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Transworld buys childhood memoir by MP Johnson

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Wed, 05/10/2011 - 08:49 Transworld has acquired a childhood memoir by Labour MP and former home secretary Alan Johnson. Publisher Doug Young bought UK and Commonwealth rights including serial from Andrew Kidd at Aitken Alexander Associates to... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
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S&S buys US congresswoman Giffords' memoir

Written By: Graeme Neill Publication Date: Tue, 04/10/2011 - 07:30 Simon & Schuster has bought a memoir by US congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was gravely wounded in a shooting earlier this year which cost the lives of six people. The book, Gabby: A Story of Courage and Hope, will be... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-04 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cornerstone buys business book from ex-Tesco c.e.o.

Written By: Charlotte Williams Publication Date: Mon, 03/10/2011 - 08:05 Former Tesco c.e.o. Sir Terry Leahy has written a business book for Cornerstone. Random House Business Books publishing director Nigel Wilcockson bought world rights to Ten Management Lessons by Sir Terry through Danny... Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2011-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Librarians fear over digital stalemate

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Hodder buys new "Never Google" series

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Faber buys Al-Tawany title

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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HC buys Courtney Love memoir

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-29 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Study Shows Only 38.4 Percent of Digital Media Users Engage with Mag Content

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[ Folio Magazine | 2011-09-28 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Cape buys new novels from Joe Stretch

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-27 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Canongate buys stories by US marine

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-23 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Digital to drive Bookseller kids conference

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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BISG discusses WBN US and digital changes

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[ The Bookseller | 2011-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Glam Media Buys Ning for Social Push

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[ AdWeek | 2011-09-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
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