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 ]

Other news stories related to: "Steam now tells gamers up front that they're buying a license, not a game"


Game of Thrones spawns an app to help fans learn to speak Dothraki

Publisher promises it will arm you with enough vocabulary and grammar to have a complete conversation in DothrakiLanguages created for TV shows can have a powerful fascination for fans: just look at Star Treks Klingon language for proof of that. Game of Thrones Dothraki language also fits into... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-10-14 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The Cost of Restructuring

As book publishing transitions from a largely print-based industry to one that produces both print and digital content, many publishers are restructuring their operations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


So Starbucks Is Really Good at Instagram Videos, Too

Whether or not Starbucks' actual coffee gets you buzzing, the retailer's marketing efforts always seem like a pretty good wake-up call to the competition. The Seattle-based brand has shown rare ability with Facebook ads, Tumblr promos and mobile marketing. Now add Instagram videos to the mix. ... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-10-03 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Online Publishers Association Announces Rebrand to Digital Content Next

The organization formerly known as the Online Publishers Association (OPA) has announced a new name, Digital Content Next, a rebrand that signals a renewed focus on defining and confronting critical, big picture issues that its members face when crea ... Continue reading at Editor & Publisher

[ Editor & Publisher | 2014-09-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


HarperCollins Adds Digital Watermarks to E-books

HarperCollins has started using Digimarc Corp.’s watermarking system for ebooks to provide an extra layer of security to the sale of HC’s digital content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-09-15 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Some Disney movies unavailable on Amazon in apparent contract dispute

Maleficent and Captain America among films affected Online retailer already in dispute with Hachette Book GroupAmazon.com has halted pre-orders of some Disney movies, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, in what appears to be another contract dispute after the online giant began a... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


USA Today owner Gannett to spin off publishing arm

Media giant to create two companies, one of which will focus on broadcasting and digital content and the other on publishingGannett, the publisher of USA Today, is to take full ownership of the auto website Cars.com and spin off its publishing assets into a publicly traded company as it focuses... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2014-08-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Logitech TogetherWeGame will make you a game developer -- no skills needed

Growing up as a computer nerd, I remember thinking that I would learn how to program, so I could develop my own video games. I think this is a dream that many nerds share. I remember that my dad bought me a huge book on programming and after about 5 pages, I gave up and began reading comic books... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-07-31 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Amazon Is Experimenting With A New Homepage Design

The newer, flatter design puts Kindle, Fire, and Prime categories front and center.Amazon has unveiled a new homepage design to select users, placing a new emphasis on the retail giant's biggest brands: the Kindle ebook platform, its Fire lineup of tablets and smartphones, and the Prime... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-07-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Comic-Con Preview Night: New Books From Image, Dark Horse, Archie, D&Q

The traditional kickoff night for Comic-Con attracted the usual mob of fans looking to get their first glimpse of a show floor full of comics, games, TV shows and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-24 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Chris Colfer Doesn’t Want to Know What the Internet Thinks of Him

Specs Who Chris Colfer Age 24 Accomplishments Star of Fox’s Glee; screenwriter; author of The Land of Stories book series (his latest, A Grimm Warning, was just released) Base Los Angeles What’s the first information you consume in the morning? I immediately turn to my cellphone and look to... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-07-17 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


12 Great Graphic Novel Adaptations

Everything from novels to movies, video games, and even government reports have been given the graphic novel treatment. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-07-16 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


The real 'fire' in Amazon's smartphone? A shopping spree

You’d be forgiven for thinking Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos wants to compete with other phone makers with his company’s new Fire smartphone. But forget the multiple cameras and pretty 3-D-like effects, the device is really about selling more stuff.The Fire comes with close ties to Amazon’s online... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2014-06-19 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


New Fortune and Money Websites Go to War With Old Partner CNNMoney

Fortune and Money magazines each rolled out their own websites Sunday, ending a long partnership with CNNMoney.com under which their digital content had been subsumed in the larger site.The collaboration is coming to an end because the magazines' and CNN's family is splitting up: Time Warner is... Continue reading at Advertising Age

[ Advertising Age | 2014-06-01 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Facebook announces listening feature

Facebook is to release a new feature on its mobile app that will listen to and identify your music and TV shows before publishing them in a status update. Continue reading at BBC World

[ BBC World | 2014-05-22 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Tinicum Acquires Majority Stake in F+W

Tinicum, a private equity firm with investments in media and e-commerce, has purchased a majority stake in F+W, A Content + eCommerce Company, an old media content company that has transformed itself into a digital content and retailing platform. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-05-05 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Humble Bundle Releasing Doctorow Audiobook

Humble Bundle, the online venture that distributes bundles of digital content for a price decided by the consumer, is releasing its third bundle of ebooks, including a self-produced DRM-free audiobook of Cory Doctorow's novel "Homeland." Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2014-03-18 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


Amazon Is Raising The Cost Of Prime Membership

Analysts say the $20 bump, from $79 to $99, could add up to $1 billion to the company's revenue.Amazon Prime is a great deal. You get free two-day shipping on most of your packages, unlimited access to Amazon's growing trove of streaming movies and TV shows, and the ability to rent ebooks from... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2014-03-13 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


HP donates $250,000 to women studying IT Security

Any job a man can do, so can a woman. Sure, there are physical differences between the sexes, but that does not have to impede success. One industry that has primarily been a men's club is IT. Historically, being a computer nerd has been a guy thing. However, over the years, women have been... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2014-02-25 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this


BuzzFeed's 'Real Women' Video Strikes Controversial Chord

How women are portrayed in photography has been a hot-button issue in publishing during the last several months. One could argue the spirited dialogue goes back a year to Dove's "Real Beauty Sketches" effort, which went viral. At any rate, whether you find BuzzFeed Video's "Photoshopping Real... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2014-02-21 00:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this