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'


Media Briefing: What Axios’ sale says about the valuation of digital media companies

In this week’s Media Briefing, senior media reporter Sara Guaglione looks at what Axios's sale to Cox Enterprises signals about the current investment market for media companies. The post Media Briefing: What Axios’ sale says about the valuation of digital media companies appeared first on Digiday. Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2022-08-11 04:01:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #media briefing #media companies #digital media


Media measurement uncertainty—tracking TV, social and digital

How Nielsen and other media companies are navigating the measurement upheaval, plus industry reactions. Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2022-08-10 12:08:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #media companies #nielsen


News Corp almost doubles its profits on back of digital advertising and subscribers

Rupert Murdoch’s publishing and media giant attributes record profits and revenue to acquisitions and digital transformationRupert Murdoch’s News Corporation has almost doubled its profits in 2021/22 to a record $US760m ($A1.1bn).The US-listed company owns News Corp Australia, as well as... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2022-08-08 23:21:18 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #digital advertising #rupert murdoch #news corporation #majority stake #book publisher #news corp


Will the Biggest Publisher in the United States Get Even Bigger?

The Biden administration is suing to block Penguin Random House from buying Simon & Schuster. A United States District Court will decide if the sale can proceed. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-07-31 11:19:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #biggest publisher #biden administration #penguin random house


Best cloud gaming services: GeForce Now vs. Amazon Luna vs. Google Stadia and others

Being able to play modern, high-quality video games on just about any kind of PC is the big pitch of the handful of cloud gaming services out there. Using a subscription model, these services allow people with a strong internet connection to tap remote servers in order to play video games of... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-07-29 10:30:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #technical specifications #libraries


Watch Annapurna Interactive's games showcase here at 3PM ET

Annapurna Interactive is set to hold its second games showcase today at 3PM and you can watch it below. The powerhouse indie publisher just released one of the most anticipated games of the year in Stray, as well as the acclaimed, speedrun-friendly Neon White. It's about to offer a look at... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-07-28 18:00:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #annapurna interactive #release date #indie publisher


Media Briefing: A snapshot of the digital media economy at the start of earnings season

In this week’s Media Briefing, media editor Kayleigh Barber examines the state of the digital media economy as major tech platforms report quarterly earnings and advertising and commerce businesses remain in flux. The post Media Briefing: A snapshot of the digital media economy at the start of... Continue reading at Digiday

[ Digiday | 2022-07-28 04:01:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #media briefing #digital media


Podium Audio Buys Bookstat

The digital publisher Podium Audio has acquired Bookstat, the data subscription service that tracks online book purchases in physical, e-book, and audiobook formats. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-07-26 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #audiobook formats #audiobook #online book #digital publisher


Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 13-game anthology debuts August 30th

Shredder's Revenge is great if you want a modern take on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles beat-'em-ups, but what if you'd rather stick with the classics? You won't have to wait long to revisit those, either. Digital Eclipse, Konami and Nickelodeon have announced that TMNT: The Cowabunga Collection... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-07-22 14:00:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #bundle includes #golden era #anthology


Quidditch is now quadball, distancing game from J.K. Rowling, league says

Quidditch, a sport invented by Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, is rebranding as “quadball” amid controversy over the author’s comments. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-07-20 13:42:04 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #harry potter


Billboards with Quotes From LGBTQ Books Placed in Book-Banning States

For Pride month, Penguin Random House installed billboard with quotes from LGBTQ books in areas where LGBTQ books are being banned. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-07-11 20:07:06 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #lgbtq books #pride month #penguin random house


E3 2023 will be run by the team behind the PAX gaming events

The folks in charge of some of the biggest gaming events in the US will now be running the biggest one of them all. ReedPop, organizers of the various PAX events, as well as New York Comic Con and Star Wars Celebration, has been tapped to produce next year’s E3. In a statement, the Electronic... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-07-08 08:31:44 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #long-awaited return #hybrid event #gaming industry #comic con


The best Kindle: Reviews and buying advice

The Kindle is the reigning leader among e-readers. But Amazon makes several models—knowing which Kindle to buy depends on your budget and your reading preferences. That’s where this guide comes in. With our help, you’ll find just the right Kindle for you or your lucky loved one. Amazon’s E... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-07-07 16:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #radical overhaul #top-shelf e-reader #e-reading experience #charging port #bluetooth speaker #consumer electronics #kindle


In Gabrielle Zevin’s novel, two video game designers chase love IRL

"Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow," by Gabrielle Zevin, is a novel about video game makers who came of age with Donkey Kong and fell in love. Continue reading at The Washington Post

[ The Washington Post | 2022-06-28 16:07:16 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #gabrielle zevin


At least no one’s buying all those stupid Trump aide tell-alls.

Remember that exhausting parade of Trump insiders and ex-staffers getting book deals for dishy tell-alls? Turns out no one’s really interested in reading them. Politico went digging around NPD Bookscan (which reflects about 70 percent of sales) to get the receipts: The Chief’s Chief [by former... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-06-24 12:44:43 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #book deals #bookscan


‘Roller Champions’ comes to Switch and Epic Games Store on June 21st

Ubisoft released its long-delayed sports game Roller Champions last month on PC, PlayStation and Xbox, and Nintendo Switch players are about to join the fray. A UK eShop listing spotted by Nintendo Life first indicated the free-to-play title will be released on the hybrid console on June 21st.... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-06-20 17:10:28 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #june 21st #free-to-play title #stiff competition #publisher announced


UNC Press Marks a Century of Publishing in the Tar Heel State

The University of North Carolina Press has much to celebrate as it marks its 100th anniversary. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #100th anniversary


Amazon teases 30 free games and a $10 credit for Prime Day 2022

Amazon Prime Day is back for 2022. Despite its beginnings as a shopping “holiday” no one asked for, it’s grown to mammoth proportions—Amazon Prime members can expect a flood of discounts when the deals start dropping at midnight PT on Tuesday, July 12 and run through Wednesday, July... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-06-16 19:27:37 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #prime day #prime video #prime reading #kindle unlimited #stay tuned #kindle


As Digital Comics Surge, Comics Plus Takes Off in Schools and Libraries

The digital comics service has been reborn under "mission-driven" upstart LibraryPass. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |


Rowman & Littlefield Buys North Country Books

Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group has acquired North Country Books. Based in Utica, N.Y., North Country has a backlist of about 200 titles, with a focus on regional books about the Adirondacks and Upstate New York. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-06-16 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this |