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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Foyles to launch libraries in retirement homes

Foyles is entering the housing sector by partnering with property developer Elysian Residences for specially curated libraries in their retirement homes. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-08-11 13:23:15 UTC ]
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Libraries Act as Cooling Centers in Heatwaves

If you needed yet another reason to love libraries: they help during heatwaves. Libraries in Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, California, ... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-28 10:31:48 UTC ]
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21 Must-See Bookstores And Libraries In Asia: Critical Linking, July 21, 2019

Critical Linking is a daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web sponsored by Libro.fm. “This ... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-21 10:30:01 UTC ]
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Panorama Project Pivots, Taps New Project Leader

As library e-book issues gain urgency, the OverDrive funded effort to measure the impact of libraries on authors and publishers taps industry vet Guy LeCharles Gonzalez to take the project to the next level. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-19 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Canongate signs Bolinda deal for library audiobooks

Canongate has joined forces with audio publisher Bolinda to make its audiobooks available to libraries in a new partnership. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-18 10:30:26 UTC ]
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Nielsen Book and Rakuten OverDrive Named Supporters of the UK’s Libraries Week

Both the United States-based Rakuten OverDrive and the UK-based Nielsen Book are named today as new partners for CILIP in Libraries Week 2019. The post Nielsen Book and Rakuten OverDrive Named Supporters of the UK’s Libraries Week appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2019-07-17 08:10:12 UTC ]
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Nielsen Book to sponsor Libraries Week in two-year CILIP partnership

Nielsen Book has joined forces with library and information association CILIP to sponsor its reading campaign alongside National Libraries Week in a new two-year partnership. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-16 17:15:51 UTC ]
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I Found My American Dream at the Public Library

In his op-ed for Forbes last year, Panos Mourdoukoutas, a professor of economics at LIU Post in New York, suggested that Amazon stores should replace libraries to save taxpayers money. Following the backlash this preposterous suggestion created, Forbes took the article down. But the outpouring... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2019-07-12 08:48:09 UTC ]
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The Week in Libraries: July 12, 2019

The digital content market for libraries is about to get even more unsettled; Elsevier cuts off researchers at the University of California; and librarians gear up for the 2020 census. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Citing Embargo, Libraries Plan Boycott of Blackstone Digital Audio

A coalition of some 44 public libraries across Washington state is organizing a six-month boycott of Blackstone Publishing's digital audiobooks after the publisher announced last month that it would withhold new release audio titles from libraries for 90 days. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2019-07-12 04:00:00 UTC ]
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National Libraries Conference aims for 'continued survival' of service

A National Libraries Conference, due to take place later this month, aims to ensure the service’s “continued survival” in a digital age, organisers say. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-11 05:47:50 UTC ]
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Visit 28 of the Best Libraries in the World

From oldest to largest, most popular to smallest, explore the planet and update your travel plans with this list of the best libraries in the world. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-10 10:39:02 UTC ]
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Essex libraries saved after council U-turn in triumph for campaigners

Essex County Council has announced it is ditching plans to close its libraries and their future is secure for the next five years following a huge community campaign, supported by authors including David Walliams and Jacqueline Wilson. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-09 00:31:48 UTC ]
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Campaigners in new bid to save Essex library services

Library campaigners are calling on Essex County Council to launch a new consultation on the future of its libraries in a new bid to save the services.  Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-07-08 10:24:45 UTC ]
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Beautiful Libraries Around the World Every Book Lover Should Visit: July 7, 2019

Critical Linking, a daily roundup of the most interesting bookish links from around the web, is sponsored by Book Riot’s ... Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2019-07-07 10:30:45 UTC ]
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Want Kids to Learn the Joy of Reading? Barbershops and Laundromats Can Help

A movement supported by nonprofit groups and libraries is creating literary spaces in places where children find themselves with time on their hands. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2019-07-02 09:00:13 UTC ]
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Microsoft's Ebook Apocalypse Shows the Dark Side of DRM

Microsoft has closed its ebook store—and will soon make their customers' libraries disappear along with it. Continue reading at Wired

[ Wired | 2019-06-30 11:00:00 UTC ]
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Co-op launches campaign to protect community hubs

Brand offers financial support to help restore parks, libraries and leisure centres. Continue reading at Media Week

[ Media Week | 2019-06-28 09:22:56 UTC ]
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Springer Nature signs its first 'pure OA' deal with Sweden's Bibsam

An agreement between publisher Springer Nature and Sweden's Bibsam consortium - made up of institutional libraries and funders - will see the two share the costs of publishing in Springer Nature's Open Access journals.   Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-27 01:33:22 UTC ]
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State school children miss out on author visits, NLT report reveals

Writers say a lack of funding and cuts to libraries mean children from disadvantaged backgrounds are missing out when it comes to school visits, after a new report shows that independent schools are far more likely to have welcomed an author in the past year than state schools. Continue reading at The Bookseller

[ The Bookseller | 2019-06-26 04:33:29 UTC ]
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