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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OverDrive: Record Number of Libraries Surpassed One Million Digital Lends in 2022

OverDrive officials said 129 library systems hit the milestone with the Los Angeles Public Library becoming its first library system to surpass 10 million digital circulations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
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CJK Group Buys Allen Press

The CJK Group continues to add more printing and publishing services companies to its portfolio with its acquisition of the assets of Allen Press. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-11 05:00:00 UTC ]
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OverDrive Digital Library Circulation Grew 10% in 2022

The 2022 figures suggest that demand for digital resources in libraries continues to be robust even as the rate of growth slows from pandemic levels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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BMW's i Vision Dee concept digitizes the driving experience with a full-width heads-up display

BMW is once again ready to give the world a glimpse of the futuristic tech it has in the works as p[art of its i Vision concept vehicle program. Following 2017's iVision Dynamics, 2018's iNext SAV, and last year's iVision Circular, the German automaker revealed at CES 2023 on Thursday the i... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-01-05 04:15:55 UTC ]
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UTA Buys Fletcher & Company

The Hollywood talent agency is further expanding its presence in book publishing with the acquisition of the independent literary agency Fletcher & Co. After buying U.K.-based agency Curtis Brown in June 2022, the acquisition will see UTA add 12 full-time staffers to its publishing division. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-01-04 05:00:00 UTC ]
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12 Sci-Fi Stories to Help Make Sense of the Climate, Risk, and Our Digital Lives

Don’t miss these short stories featuring firefighting drones, lab-grown mammals, long-buried fan fiction, and much more. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2022-12-30 10:50:00 UTC ]
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Scholastic Posts Second-Quarter Double-Digit Gains in Sales and Earnings

A 19% increase in Scholastic's children's book publishing and distribution segment drove total sales up 12% in the second quarter, while operating income rose 20%. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-16 05:00:00 UTC ]
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The best digital gifts to send your friends and family

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[ Engadget | 2022-12-14 14:18:30 UTC ]
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Digitizing Its ‘Christmas Books’: Cambridge University Press

Produced between 1930 and 1973, Cambridge University Press' Christmas gift books were testaments to the company's capabilities. The post Digitizing Its ‘Christmas Books’: Cambridge University Press appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2022-12-12 17:32:06 UTC ]
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Ayaneo’s Air Pro is a taste of the portable PC gaming future

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[ Engadget | 2022-12-07 18:00:03 UTC ]
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Hachette UK Buys Welbeck Publishing Group

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[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-12-05 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Today’s Google Doodle celebrates Jerry Lawson, the ‘father of the video game cartridge’

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[ Engadget | 2022-12-01 18:15:43 UTC ]
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Best Buy’s best Cyber Monday deals: Laptops, TVs, tablets and more

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[ PC World | 2022-11-28 10:05:00 UTC ]
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Best Buy’s best Black Friday deals: Laptops, TVs, tablets and more

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[ PC World | 2022-11-25 10:05:00 UTC ]
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Best Buy’s best Black Friday deals: Laptops, TVs, Apple gear, and more

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[ PC World | 2022-11-24 09:59:00 UTC ]
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I beg you, don’t buy a novelty notebook for the book lover in your life this holiday season.*

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[ Literrary Hub | 2022-11-21 17:03:41 UTC ]
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Best Buy’s best Black Friday deals: TVs, laptops, Apple gear, and more

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[ PC World | 2022-11-17 19:44:06 UTC ]
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Xbox Game Pass Ultimate now includes free trials for Apple Music and Apple TV+

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[ Engadget | 2022-11-16 16:50:43 UTC ]
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[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-11-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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