Steam now tells gamers up front that they're buying a license, not a game

Steam appears to have started posting a notice in its shopping cart that purchases on its storefront are only for a license and not a game, according to a notice spotted by Engadget. It looks like an attempt by the company to get ahead of a new California law coming next year that forces companies to admit that buyers don't actually own digital content.  When you open your shopping cart with items inside and before going to payment, a notice at the bottom right states: "A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam." This is the first time our editors have seen of a notice like this (and we use Steam a lot), so it appears to be relatively new.  Engadget Last month California governor Gavin Newsom signed AB 2426 into law, forcing digital marketplaces to make it clear to customers when they only purchase a license to access media. It will not apply to permanent offline downloads, only digital copies of video games, music, movies, TV shows or ebooks from an online storefront. Companies that fail to comply could face fines for false advertising if they don't explain in clear language the limitations of a given digital purchase. The law followed situations like Ubisoft deleting The Crew from player's libraries after the game's servers shuttered. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/steam-now-tells-gamers-up-front-that-theyre-buying-a-license-not-a-game-085106522.html?src=rss Continue reading at 'Engadget'

[ Engadget | 2024-10-11 08:51:06 UTC ]

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Amazon's Kindle will finally add epub support

It only took about 15 years, but Amazon’s Kindle will finally support the ePub format. First spotted by Good E-Reader, Amazon updated its Kindle section with the news that the Send to Kindle function will convert ePub files to a format that can be opened on the e-reader. The update is scheduled... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-05-03 00:25:01 UTC ]
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Librarians Gather in Texas as Book Bans Mount

In Texas, where libraries are a political battleground, the Texas Library Association recently convened its annual convention in person for the first time since 2019—in the district of a state representative Matt Kraus eager to ban books. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-29 04:00:00 UTC ]
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IBPA Tackles Book Bans

Last Thursday's Independent Book Publishers Association's “The Battle for Free Expression: Indie Publishers and Libraries in the Fight Against Censorship.” panel offered insights from digital media, public libraries, academic research, and online education on the rise in book banning. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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New Kentucky Law Hands Control of Libraries to Local Politicians

In a move that has alarmed library leaders, Kentucky bill SB 167—which came back from the dead last week with a veto override—will empower local politicians to “appoint whomever they want to library boards and block major library spending.” Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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The pandemic showed us that we still need libraries, even with Google

A pandemic might close a library, but it can’t stop librarians. They were still finding new ways to remind us that libraries are about connections and experiences, writes Heidi LM Jacobs. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2022-04-17 08:00:00 UTC ]
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Amazon is bringing mobile games to its Amazon Kids+ service

Amazon is bringing two mobile games to its subscription-based entertainment platform for children. Known as Amazon Kids+, the $2.99 per month service has served as sort of a one-stop shop for kid-friendly books, TV shows, movies, games and more. The first game, Super Spy Ryan is a multiplayer... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-04-14 13:00:13 UTC ]
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Asus ProArt PA279CV monitor review: The go-to for content creators on a budget

At a glanceExpert’s Rating ProsAccurate imageHigh maximum brightnessMenu settings allow calibrationHas USB-C with 65 watts Power DeliveryCompetitive priceConsUnimpressive designLuminance uniformity could be betterHDR is bright but otherwise falls shortOur VerdictThe Asus ProArt PA279CV targets... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2022-04-14 10:30:00 UTC ]
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The New York Public Library makes four banned books free nationwide on its e-reader app

The New York Public Library made four banned books available nationwide on SimplyE, its free-reader app. The titles include Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, King and the Dragonflies by Kacen Callender, Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi and Catcher in the... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2022-04-13 23:48:05 UTC ]
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Brooklyn Library Offers Access to Banned eBooks to Teens Across the U.S.

The UnBanned Books initiative will give anyone in the U.S. between 13-21 a free eCard, giving them access to frequently challenged ebooks. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-04-13 16:00:00 UTC ]
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Authors and Booksellers Mobilize for Midterm Voters

Writers for Democratic Action, an organization of some 2,600 authors, is mobilizing its membership in a campaign called Book the Vote. WDA will facilitate nonpartisan voter registration for the 2022 midterm election, working with authors, bookstores, and libraries to educate voters about their... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Blackstone Ends Library Embargo

Nearly three years after it first announced a 90-day embargo to libraries on its newly published audio titles, Blackstone Publishing this week announced that it is changing course. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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In California, you can borrow state park passes from your local library.

Because we can never resist adding another line item to the eternal ledger of what we owe libraries: Californians can now use their library cards to get free entry into state parks! The three-year pilot program will give libraries (including mobile libraries) at least three passes to California... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2022-04-08 15:54:11 UTC ]
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Congress to Hold Hearing on Book Bannings in Schools and Libraries

Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin, chairman of the Subcommittee on Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, plans to hold a hearing April 7 to examine the wave of attempted book bannings in schools and libraries across the country. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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ALA Releases Top 10 Most Challenged Books of 2021

ALA kicked off National Library Week with the release of its annual State of America's Libraries report, and its "Top 10 Most Challenged Books" list. The 729 challenges tracked by ALA in 2021 represent the highest number of attempted book bans since ALA began compiling its list 20 years ago,... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Lonely Planet Blends Print, QR Codes in New Experience Guidebooks

Lonely Planet has launched a set of travel guides featuring “pull-out city maps, gatefold maps, and QR codes to unlock additional digital content from the Lonely Planet website.” Guides to Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Portugal, and Scotland roll out this spring. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-04 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Mixed Results for Libraries in Biden Administration’s 2023 Budget Proposal

A rite of spring, the White House budget proposal officially kicks off the congressional appropriations cycle each fiscal year. And this year, library advocates have their work cut out for them. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2022-04-01 04:00:00 UTC ]
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New York City Libraries End Late Fees, and the Treasures Roll In

The decision in New York City set off a wave of returns, accompanied by bashful notes of apology and gratitude. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2022-03-31 14:46:31 UTC ]
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Maia Kobabe on Fighting to Reach Marginalized Readers

At Slate, Maia Kobabe discusses writing Gender Queer, a memoir about self-acceptance and understanding, which has been challenged in schools and libraries across the country in recent months. “What I’m learning is that a book challenge is like a community attacking itself,” Kobabe says. “The... Continue reading at The Millions

[ The Millions | 2022-03-30 20:30:51 UTC ]
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Timbuktu manuscripts placed online are only a sliver of West Africa's ancient archive

Opening these libraries up promises to re-balance the continent’s place in world history when it comes to its intellectual life. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2022-03-29 16:12:23 UTC ]
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Play in the Elementary School Library

Libraries can provide joy and relief by offering a chance to play. Here are some of my favorite ways to include play in the school library. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2022-03-28 10:30:00 UTC ]
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