Steam Responds to New California Legislation on Digital Content Ownership
Ahead of new California legislation requiring storefronts to make it clear that customers are only buying a license for digital content rather than outright owning it, Steam has implemented a message at the point of purchase to clarify this important distinction.
The legislation, signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom at the end of September, aims to increase consumer awareness regarding the sometimes-temporary nature of digital ownership. It explicitly prohibits sellers from using terms like “buy” or “purchase” which a reasonable person might interpret as conferring an unrestricted ownership interest in the digital good. Instead, sellers are required to display a “clear and conspicuous statement” explaining the nature of the transaction.
California’s new legislation does not apply to games offered as part of a subscription service, nor to games “sold” or given away for free, or to titles that can be downloaded and played permanently offline. However, this has not deterred GOG, a storefront known for its commitment to DRM-free games, from humorously responding in light of Steam’s adjustments.
In a recent social media post, GOG remarked, “Since checkout banners are trending,” suggesting they might also implement a similar notice. They mocked up a GOG shopping cart with the message: “A purchase of a digital product on GOG grants you its Offline Installers, which cannot be taken away from you.
Legislation AB 2426 follows several high-profile instances of games being removed from owners’ libraries in recent times. Notably, Ubisoft gained attention earlier this year after it began quietly revoking players’ licenses to “The Crew.” Similarly, PlayStation withdrew access to PS5 shooter “Concord,” providing refunds while shutting down the servers.
The backlash from Ubisoft’s actions sparked renewed discussions surrounding video game preservation, leading to the formation of the “Stop Killing Games” initiative. This initiative aims to mount political and legal challenges against the increasingly frequent occurrence of purchased games becoming unplayable. While legislation such as AB 2426 does not address the core issue, it does seek to enhance consumer awareness prior to purchase.
Discussion with Experts
We spoke with several experts in the field to delve deeper into the implications of this legislation:
Dr. Emily Carter – Digital Rights Advocate
“This law is a significant step towards improving consumer transparency. So many people are unaware that what they think they own may not be theirs for long. It’s essential in the current digital landscape.”
Professor Mark Jennings – Game Studies Scholar
“While it’s great that consumers will receive clearer information, we still need to tackle the issue of ownership decay. Just informing consumers doesn’t solve the inherent problems of digital product licensing.”
Sara Wong – Tech Journalist
“GOG’s cheeky response showcases how competition can benefit consumers. Gamers need to be aware of alternatives where they might have more actual ownership of digital products.”
Join the Conversation!
What do you think about California’s new legislation? Do you feel more informed about your digital purchases, or do you find it frustrating? Share your thoughts in the comments below!