Why your digital games could vanish in a heartbeat

News that GOG.com has delisted 29 games this month is a sobering reminder that at any moment the games you own could vanish from your PC game libraries at any time and there’s not much you can do about it. Admittedly, GOG’s games include titles that many gamers may not have heard about. But history has shown that this happens to well-known titles too and on platforms with millions of users like Steam and Origin. So how is it that something you’ve legitimately bought can be whipped away in a heartbeat? Don’t we have consumer protection laws against that? Personally, I’d like to see protections in place to keep games from disappearing for purely licensing reasons if they still have legions of fans and are being played by many… How is it that my games can just vanish? The laws around your digital assets will differ depending on where in the world you live, but in most jurisdictions there are no clear laws stating that you unequivocally own and have the right to your digital games in perpetuity. In the U.S. the Federal Trade Commission outlines some of the reasons why this is the case. By far the main reason has to do with the terms of the agreement you make when you create an account on a gaming platform or when you click purchase. When you buy a game on a digital platform, you’re essentially just paying to access the content — in other words, you own a license but not the actual game. Accessing content is not the same as owning it. It means that... Continue reading at 'PC World'

[ PC World | 2024-09-26 10:30:00 UTC ]

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Streaming services are removing original TV and films. What this means for your favourite show – and our cultural heritage

As part of recent challenges, multiple services have removed TV and film from their libraries – in many cases, meaning they are gone forever, inaccessible to any fan. Continue reading at The Conversation

[ The Conversation | 2023-07-10 20:08:39 UTC ]
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Sarah Silverman sues OpenAI and Meta over copyright infringement

Sarah Silverman is suing OpenAI. On Friday, the comedian and author, alongside novelists Christopher Golden and Richard Kadrey, filed a pair of complaints against OpenAI and Meta (via Gizmodo). The group alleges the firms trained their large language models on copyrighted materials, including... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-07-10 17:53:22 UTC ]
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Library Event Cancelations, Changes, and Support for Pride Month 2023

A look at the destruction of Pride displays, cancelation of Drag storytimes, and other June LGBTQ+ events in U.S. libraries in 2023. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-07-10 10:36:00 UTC ]
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Why putting social workers in public libraries could help Montrealers in crisis

As more Quebecers come to libraries for services not found on the shelf, some librarians are calling for Montreal to follow the lead of other Canadian cities and hire social workers. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-07-10 08:00:00 UTC ]
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Never Too Young: Why Kids Deserve Queer Friendly Libraries

The kids are more prepared than most adults to understand and expect acceptance for all in school libraries (and beyond!). Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-30 10:35:00 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: June 30, 2023

Among the week's headlines: a resurgent ALA Annual Conference closes in Chicago; a Georgia teacher is fired for reading an inclusive book to her students; how libraries are catering to remote workers; and New York City libraries are spared from budget cuts. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-30 00:00:00 UTC ]
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Adams, council reach $107B budget deal after tense talks

The deal reverses proposed cuts to libraries despite financial strains on the city Continue reading at Crains New York

[ Crains New York | 2023-06-29 16:45:41 UTC ]
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The Most Requested LGBTQ+ Books in Classroom Libraries — and How to Help on DonorsChoose

Make an impact this month by supporting these classrooms asking for LGBTQ+ books for their students via DonorsChoose. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-21 10:40:00 UTC ]
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The biggest Steam update in years just arrived. Here’s what’s new

Steam is the world’s most popular platform for PC games and a bedrock of the industry. But if you compare the Steam of today with, say, the Steam of ten years ago, surprisingly little has changed. Or surprisingly little had changed, because Steam just released one of its biggest updates in... Continue reading at PC World

[ PC World | 2023-06-15 14:35:55 UTC ]
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Texas Officially Bans So-Called “Sexually Explicit” Books; Demands Book Ratings from Vendors

Texas's Governor signs a bill into law that gives him power over what books can be in libraries *and* forces ratings on books. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-15 10:40:00 UTC ]
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Libraries Are For Everyone: Pride in the Library Goods

Libraries are for everyone, no matter your background, identity, or experiences. These pride in the library goods highlight that. - Kelly Jensen Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-14 10:37:00 UTC ]
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Illinois Governor Signs Landmark New Law to Discourage Book Bans in Libraries

The new law, signed by Illinois governor J.B. Pritzker on June 12, conditions state grant funding for libraries on adopting and adhering to the American Library Association’s Library Bill of Rights or adopting a written policy that would protect books and other resources. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-13 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Librarians Strike Back Against Comics Bans

Comics and graphic novels are prime targets in the current battle to ban books at libraries across the country, and librarians who have championed the comics form find themselves on the front lines. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-06-09 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Libraries Need to Prepare for Another Anti-LGBTQ “Hide the Pride” Campaign

Libraries need to prepare for "Hide the Pride," a conservative campaign to remove all LGBTQ children's and YA books from libraries. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-06-06 15:28:23 UTC ]
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Battling Literary Censorship: New Court Action

The Association of American Publishers is taking legal action in Arkansas and Texas in cases related to banning books in libraries and bookstores. The post Battling Literary Censorship: New Court Action appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-06-02 20:54:15 UTC ]
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Group Challenges Arkansas Law That Criminalizes Access to Some Books

A lawsuit says the edict “forces bookstores and libraries to self-censor in a way that is antithetical to their core purposes.” Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-06-02 18:12:34 UTC ]
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AMC transfers its on-demand streaming users to Vudu

AMC Entertainment’s streaming service is migrating its users to Vudu. The companies announced today that Vudu is “the official new streaming platform for consumers of AMC Theatres on Demand.”AMC launched its on-demand streaming service in 2019, and its popularity surged during pandemic-era... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-06-01 14:00:33 UTC ]
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Libraries are being accused of offering child porn. Librarians explain why that's not true

In parts of Canada, people are campaigning to make public and school libraries remove books they claim make sexually explicit material available to minors, or even contain child pornography. Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-05-24 08:00:00 UTC ]
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New Jersey Proposes Anti-Book Ban Legislation

New Jersey becomes the fourth US state to propose an anti-book ban bill, tying state funding of public schools and libraries to freedom to read statements. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-05-22 14:58:49 UTC ]
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U.S. Book Show 2023: Libraries Confront Post-Pandemic Challenges

The U.S. Book Show kicked off with lively discussions of the recent wave of book bans across the country, how citizens can successfully fight against those who would restrict our freedom to read, and how libraries and publishers can be strategic partners in enabling access to digital content. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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