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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A Bill in Connecticut Would Fund Sanctuary Libraries: Book Censorship News, May 19, 2023

A Connecticut bill would provide funding for sanctuary libraries across the state. That, plus this week's book censorship news. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-05-19 10:40:00 UTC ]
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Kirk Cameron, aka right-wing Raffi, has a new kids’ book for Pride Month.

Kirk Cameron has had a tough year, not unlike poor, pregnant Mary. “We tried to go to libraries across the country and we’ve been turned away,” he told a church gathering this week in Charlotte, N.C., of touring his conservative children’s book As You Grow, about a tree SYMBOLIZING FAITH getting... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-17 13:22:18 UTC ]
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How to Get Involved with Your Local Library

Libraries need our support now more than ever. Here are some of the ways you can volunteer and give back to help your local library. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-05-15 10:30:00 UTC ]
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U.S. Book Show 2023: Schedule & Highlights

The highlights from our programming this year include the return of our Libraries Are Essential program, a day-long in-person meeting for literary agents, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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U.S. Book Show 2023: Libraries Are Essential

A robust slate of programming highlights the crucial work of libraries and librarians. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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ChatGPT will create winners and losers in the corporate world. Economists tried to rank them

According to the National Bureau of Economic Research, these 15 firms could be poised for a stock market rally. Ever since ChatGPT’s release, Americans have been wrestling with the idea of generative artificial intelligence automating our existence. Large language models are trained on... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-05-08 14:36:00 UTC ]
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Illinois passes bill to stop book-bannings.

Guess who made it out of committee? On Wednesday, the Illinois state legislature passed House Bill 2789, which would ensure libraries or schools that remove books from their shelves do so with the knowledge they shall ~shelve~ the state grant money they would otherwise have received. Governor... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-05-05 12:07:16 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: May 5, 2023

Voters in Michigan overwhelmingly support their local libraries and oppose book bans; Illinois passes a groundbreaking bill to support the freedom to read; ALA announces its Banned Books Week 2023 theme, and more. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-05-05 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Illinois To Become First State to Ban Book Bans

The Illinois Senate has passed HB 2789, a bill whose terms dictate that state funding from libraries that remove books will be withheld. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-05-04 16:31:45 UTC ]
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Share the Joy of Giving—and Receiving—Books as Gifts, by The Editors of WLT

Share the Joy of Giving—and Receiving—Books as Gifts, by The Editors of WLT News and Events [email protected] Mon, 05/01/2023 - 15:39 Isobelle Ouzman, Peace for Ukraine (2022; detail), miniature plain paper journal, ink, color pencils, art knife,... Continue reading at World Literature Today

[ World Literature Today | 2023-05-01 20:39:57 UTC ]
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Southern Manitoba libraries battle defunding attempts over sex-ed content in children's books

What started last year with a group trying to get a few children's sexual education books pulled from the shelves of a southern Manitoba library has now turned into accusations that its staff are pedophiles and a campaign to defund it, the... Continue reading at CBC

[ CBC | 2023-05-01 10:00:00 UTC ]
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Microsoft inks another cloud gaming deal after the UK blocked its Activision takeover

Despite suffering a significant blow this week in its attempt to take over Activision Blizzard, Microsoft still believes it can get the job done. The company has signed a 10-year agreement with Spain-based cloud gaming provider Nware to make PC games it builds in-house available to stream on... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-04-28 17:25:18 UTC ]
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Attacks On The Nation’s Libraries Are About Class As Much As Censorship

If the more than 100 bills in state legislatures aiming to ban books fail, lawmakers want to cut library budgets — which could mean cuts to resources for America's most vulnerable. Continue reading at HuffPost

[ HuffPost | 2023-04-28 09:45:11 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: April 28, 2023

Among the week's headlines: a challenging year for libraries recapped in the ALA's 2023 State of America's Libraries report; amid criticism, the College Board will change its AP African American studies course again; the Seattle Public Library will join Brooklyn Public Library in making banned... Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-28 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Why Teenagers Need Their Own Library Space

This world isn't designed for anyone under 18. Teen spaces in libraries don't just promote literacy: they give teenagers a voice. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-04-27 10:30:00 UTC ]
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American Libraries Are Taking a Stand Against Book Bans

Some of the best moments of my life have been spent in libraries, first as a patron, later as a librarian, and I have witnessed firsthand how hard the past few decades have been on libraries. As America has continued to dismantle its social safety net, libraries have been forced to pivot from... Continue reading at Electric Literature

[ Electric Literature | 2023-04-21 11:05:00 UTC ]
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The Future of Libraries Involves Affordable Housing

The Boston Public Library is the latest in a string of public libraries to plan to incorporate affordable housing into its buildings. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-04-19 18:13:54 UTC ]
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OverDrive Max Titles Now Top 400,000

OverDrive Max, which enables libraries to buy bundles of up to 100 loans for specific titles for concurrent use based on library users’ demands and with no expiration dates, has more than 400,000 titles available in the program. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-04-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Libraries are under attack—and so are library workers

Libraries are increasingly being targeted by local and state legislators and protestors trying to ban books and block LGBTQ content. How is that affecting the people who work in them? Scratch nearly any kind of story—political, social, economic, cultural, and so on—and you’ll find a labor... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-04-14 03:00:00 UTC ]
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Book banning is sweeping parts of America. These celebrities want you to help stop it

Celebrities including Julia Roberts, Julianna Margulies, and Selma Blair are urging people to take part in the #LetAmericaRead campaign. April is National School Library Month but, unfortunately, some of the books in school libraries have never been under greater threat in parts of America than... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-04-11 12:01:00 UTC ]
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