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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Open Access: Germany’s Knowledge Unlatched Acquired by Wiley

Announcing its acquisition of Knowledge Unlatched, Wiley stresses the need to simplify open-access transactions for both libraries and publishers. The post Open Access: Germany’s Knowledge Unlatched Acquired by Wiley appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-12-03 04:15:48 UTC ]
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Why Police Shouldn’t Be in Libraries (And How to Help Change That)

Libraries should be a safe, accessible space for everyone. So why are there police in libraries, compromising this very safety? Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-12-02 11:35:00 UTC ]
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Arturia's V Collection instruments now have native M1 Mac support

It's now that much easier to use Arturia's softsynths on your brand new MacBook. Arturia has released a free V Collection 8.2 update that adds native support to the (currently discounted) suite for Macs with M1 processors. That should improve performance, as you might guess, but it could also... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-11-25 15:00:35 UTC ]
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On Buying Books in Airports

Going to bookstores and libraries as a bookworm offer important experiences, but what buying books in an airport can offer may surprise you. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-23 11:36:00 UTC ]
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‘America’s Librarian’ knows why people turn to libraries in times of need

Nancy Pearl, possibly America’s best-known librarian and recommender of books, shares her thoughts on choosing what to read, and when to stop reading. Continue reading at The Christian Science Monitor

[ The Christian Science Monitor | 2021-11-16 23:20:31 UTC ]
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My Workplace Joined the Fine-Free Library Movement (And Here’s What I Learned)

The realities -- the good, the challenging, and the great -- of going fine-free in libraries from a public librarian. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-11-15 11:30:00 UTC ]
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PS5 vs. Xbox Series X: How They Compare 1 Year Later

Sony and Microsoft have had a year to address supply shortages and improve game libraries for their new consoles. Here's how they stack up. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2021-11-12 12:00:00 UTC ]
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Cool, elected school district officials are calling for literal book burning now.

Those who have been paying attention to local education news and the critical race theory debate know that many school districts are battling over what materials can be kept in libraries and taught in classrooms. The battle is making its way to the courts: just this week a PEN America report... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2021-11-11 17:33:10 UTC ]
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NLT and PRH form alliance to address lack of primary school library investment

The National Literacy Trust (NLT) is partnering with Penguin Random House (PRH) to form a national alliance addressing "the chronic lack" of investment in primary school libraries in the UK. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-11-02 10:42:55 UTC ]
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The Free Book Bus, A Death Positive Library, and Other Good Bookish Things That Happened This Week

Lots of good bookish things happened this week, including research that proves libraries lead to healthier, more equitable communities. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-10-29 10:42:00 UTC ]
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The Most Haunted Bookstores and Libraries Around the World

It turns out ghosts like their books just as much as the living! Learn all about the most haunted bookstores and libraries in the US and abroad... if you dare. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-10-29 10:36:00 UTC ]
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Reading Agency project to bring latest VR technology to 15 libraries

The latest augmented and virtual reality technology will be brought to 15 libraries across the country next summer, as part of a new project to help support libraries recover from the coronavirus pandemic.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-25 11:42:41 UTC ]
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PRH Once Again Extends Temporary E-book, Digital Audio Terms for Libraries

The publisher's pro-rated terms and its temporary story time permissions will now run through March, 31, 2022, as the pandemic continues to impact schools and libraries. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-22 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Libraries Connected holds first awards to recognise achievements of library staff

Libraries Connected held its first ever awards this week, to recognise and celebrate the achievements of library staff over the past year.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2021-10-20 05:39:05 UTC ]
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Get 'Mastering Python for Networking and Security -- Second Edition' ($27.99 value) FREE for a limited time

It’s now more apparent than ever that security is a critical aspect of IT infrastructure, and that devastating data breaches can occur from simple network line hacks. As shown in this book, combining the latest version of Python with an increased focus on network security can help you to level... Continue reading at Betanews

[ Betanews | 2021-10-13 17:39:30 UTC ]
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Google will stop trying to make its iOS apps look like Android apps

Google says it will phase out its use of Material Design interface elements within its iOS apps in favor of Apple’s own UIKit. Jeff Verkoeyen, the company's iOS design chief, announced the change in a Twitter thread spotted by The Verge.This year my team shifted the open source Material... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-10-12 17:16:51 UTC ]
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I’m Not a Librarian But I Work in a Public Library

People assume everyone who works at a library is a librarian, but most of the staff you’ll interact with at large libraries aren't librarians. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2021-10-11 10:30:00 UTC ]
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ALA Accepting Applications for $2 Million in NEH-funded Covid-19 Relief Grants

Up to 200 U.S. libraries of all types will be selected to receive $10,000 grants to support, restore, and sustain their core activities. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2021-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Canada’s Indigenous Communities to Benefit from Emerald Pilot Project

The pilot project between Emerald and the Council of Prairie and Pacific Libraries opens research to Indigenous communities in Canada. The post Canada’s Indigenous Communities to Benefit from Emerald Pilot Project appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2021-09-23 14:14:30 UTC ]
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Algoriddim's djay iOS app uses Shazam to recognize and sync with live music

Algoriddim has been working closely with Apple for years on its djay apps and regularly appears in the company's keynotes. Now, it's integrating another Apple product, Shazam, into its latest iOS djay app with the release of iOS 15. The new feature lets you can scan your surroundings and... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2021-09-20 14:00:01 UTC ]
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