Important points
- A new California law would effectively “ban” digital storefronts from using the words “buy” or “buy” for primarily licensed digital goods.
- These storefronts must now clearly inform consumers that they are purchasing a license that can be revoked at any time for any reason.
- The law comes as companies like Ubisoft revoke access to purchased games. It makes consumers wonder what ownership means in this day and age.
New law in California will help define the meaning of “Own” new digital content after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the law into law.
When the law takes effect in 2025, it will effectively ban digital storefronts from using the words “buy” or “buy” when referring to digital goods, including games and DLC that come with other items, that is, unless Those storefronts clearly inform customers that they are purchasing a non-permanent, revocable license.
The legislation, spearheaded by Assemblywoman Jacqui Irwin, comes as consumers lose access to digital goods they thought were “unusual”. More and more “own” Notably, the charge comes in response to Ubisoft taking The Crew permanently offline. Like Sony's threat to dismantle Discovery.
“As retailers continue to shift away from selling physical media, The need for consumer protection in digital media purchases is increasingly important,” Irwin said. “AB 2426 will ensure that false and deceptive advertising from digital media sellers is false. Consumers they own purchases are a thing of the past.”
Do we own anything anymore?
As mentioned above, The Crew's delisting has been a major topic among gamers. The servers were originally taken offline in late March. And because the game is an online game only Copies of the game are therefore unplayable.
Not only were those copies unplayable; But gamers began to see that copies After the backlash, Ubisoft announced plans to create offline modes for The Crew 2 as well as The Crew Motorfest “to ensure accessibility to both games.” in the long term”
Late last year, Sony announced that Discovery shows customers purchased would be removed from their devices before the new license agreement took effect.
Elsewhere, Steam users discovered through forum responses that accounts and libraries cannot be transferred to another person upon death. Giving your password to someone else to gain access to your library is also a violation of the Steam Subscriber Agreement.
All of this is to say that digital ownership is an increasingly important topic. California is taking steps to help better identify and inform consumers before they make purchasing decisions. and hope that other states and countries will be able to follow
