California's New Law Will Force Storefronts to Disclose That Buyers Don't Actually Own Their Digitally Purchased Media
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law that will force storefronts to admit that you don't actually own your digitally purchased games, films, and TV shows - you're just licensing them.
California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a bill into law that won't stop companies from taking away your digitally purchased video games, movies, and TV shows, but it'll at least force them to be a little more transparent about it.
As spotted by The Verge, the law, AB 2426, will prohibit storefronts from using the words "buy, purchase, or any other term which a reasonable person would understand to confer an unrestricted ownership interest in the digital good or alongside an option for a time-limited rental." The law won't apply to storefronts which state in "plain language" that you're actually just licensing the digital content and that license could expire at any time, or to products that can be permanently downloaded.
The law will go into effect next year, and companies who violate the terms could be hit with a false advertising fine. It also applies to e-books, music, and other forms of digital media.
“As retailers continue to pivot away from selling physical media, the need for consumer protections on the purchase of digital media has become increasingly more important,” California Assembly member and bill author Jacqui Irwin said in a statement. “I thank the Governor for signing AB 2426, ensuring the false and deceptive advertising from sellers of digital media incorrectly telling consumers they own their purchases becomes a thing of the past."
It's a clear response to some of the ongoing concerns surrounding disappearing digital content in both the games and film and TV spaces. A year after delisting it, Ubisoft took its online-only racing game The Crew offline in April, also deleting it from its players' libraries. Entertainment companies like Amazon, meanwhile, have stated explicitly in the past that you don't actually own those films and TV shows you purchase.
And, again, the new law still doesn't prevent those companies from yanking your content away from you, but at least they'll have to warn you about the potential. For more on the subject, check out my colleague Amelia Emberwing's column on the importance of physical media in the streaming age.
Alex Stedman is a Senior News Editor with IGN, overseeing entertainment reporting. When she's not writing or editing, you can find her reading fantasy novels or playing Dungeons & Dragons.
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