Licence rights when purchasing boxed software vs Steam(there isn't any difference is there?)

[ID10TError]

When I purchase a game, i expect to be able to run that game alongside other games I have purched at the same time. I expect the steam installation to allow another computer to launch a game I have a licence for. We have a shared computer upstairs(which needs fixing and i'll format or whatever) and I have my steam account loaded on there so my stepfather can play any game I'M NOT CURRENTLY PLAYING ALREADY. I have a licence to run the software 24/7 for a single instance and if that instance is inactive I expect the other steam program to allow launch of a game on another computer if its not already running the same game ANYWHERE ELSE on my account, this oh your playing a game on another computer quit that then i'll launch it violates my rights as a licence holder and I expect to be able to play my games not concurrently but "ALL TOGETHER" this is within my licence rights. If I had purchased boxed software that is what I can expect. How is your service any different to boxed software?

[ID10TError]

P.s. don't ever drop offline support, if you do i'll expect boxed copies of all my games.

[Wolf Knight]

if you want boxed copies, complain to the game developer, many boxed games only contain the launcher for the game, not the game itself. you will still have to download it for most titles.
library sharing only allows 1 account access to the library at a time. this is intended. if you want to have 2 different games running on 2 different computers, make 2 steam accounts.

[Chompman]

This is how family share works:

https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=3784-QLBM-5731

Can two users share a library and both play at the same time?
No, a shared library may only be played by one user at a time including the owner and even if they want to play different games.

[ID10TError]

No, if you purchased boxed software you would be able to do exactly what I asked. How is a steam licence different from the software licence? Becaues I want to make some serious waves about this. And Wolf Night, you just accept the loss of control and praise steam for it? Don't like ya man, don't like ya.

[ID10TError]

Chompman, i'm not using family share I have my account loaded on 3 computers my desktop, my laptop and karls pc I should be legally able to launch 3 different titles WITHOUT STEAM COMPLAINING, thats WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF I HAD THE ORIGINAL BOXED SOFTWARE.

[8ullfrog]

What you want is not offered. Your Stepfather needs his own account.

[ID10TError]

If I don't get any serious replys i'll look into contacting my government to say that australians are being subjected to unreasonable licence agreements. Boxed software would work exactly as I wanted.

[SpunkyJones]

Boxed software is irrelevant, it’s all about the license.

[Chompman]

Originally posted by ID10TError:

No, if you purchased boxed software you would be able to do exactly what I asked. How is a steam licence different from the software licence? Becaues I want to make some serious waves about this. And Wolf Night, you just accept the loss of control and praise steam for it? Don't like ya man, don't like ya.

Your "license" in this case only applys to one account and it's been talked about in many places like here so before you make another thread about it I suggest you see if there was another post dealing with this issue:
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/10/350542683193893747/

[Chompman]

Originally posted by ID10TError:

Chompman, i'm not using family share I have my account loaded on 3 computers my desktop, my laptop and karls pc I should be legally able to launch 3 different titles WITHOUT STEAM COMPLAINING, thats WHAT WOULD HAVE BEEN POSSIBLE IF I HAD THE ORIGINAL BOXED SOFTWARE.

And there is another issue here.

Sharing your account like this is against the tos and can result in it getting locked so I suggest you use family share instead.

[Wolf Knight]

read the requirements on the box. if it says you need a steam account, then you are subject to the rules of steam.

[SpunkyJones]

Originally posted by ID10TError:

Boxed software would work exactly as I wanted.

Things don’t work the way you want just because you wish it to. Read the license agreements on the game itself and your steam agreement.

[ID10TError]

I don't share my account only the games, not like Karl is going to start a discussion here is it eh?
Thanks for the heads up on the other thread Chompman i'll post there.

You do not get to redefine the licence to software provided via the steam store, it is only the conduit through which software is provided, if there are additional restrictions to licence usage they will need to be discussed at the time of purchase and individual difference itemized otherwise your just hiding behind a licence agreement and I don't agree or allow any limitation to my preexisting licence.

Also Karl doesn't know my username or password honestly he would barely notice the loading screen indicating an account name.

[WolfEisberg]

Originally posted by ID10TError:

If I don't get any serious replys i'll look into contacting my government to say that australians are being subjected to unreasonable licence agreements. Boxed software would work exactly as I wanted.

Then I suggest you get with your Government and see if anything can happen.

The only thing you can do is use the offline mode function, then you can play the games without any issues. But if you are wanting to play online on Steam and your step father wants to play a different game online on Steam, then you can't do that.


For me personally, when available, I buy my games from GoG.com, since no client is required at all, which means I can have my games on all my different computers, and my family can play what ever game they want with no hindrance from a client stopping it.

[ID10TError]

So how is steam allowed to limit my preexisting licence that I hold with the software developer?

Just scroll to the end and read everything after "2)"
Overview
The Trade Practices Act 1974 (the Act) protects
consumers when they buy goods and services.
It does so by saying that there are legal rights and
obligations in every contract between a buyer and
a seller. For example, the law requires that goods
must be free of defects, and do what they are meant
to do. Services must be carried out with care and
skill.
Consumers’ rights, which the Act says automatically
form part of every contract between buyer and
seller, are called statutory rights.
If a seller of goods or services does not meet any
one of the obligations, it is a breach of their contract
with the consumer. When this happens, consumers
are entitled to a remedy from the seller.
The type of remedy depends on the circumstances
but may include repair or replacement of goods,
compensation for loss or damage, a refund or
having an unsatisfactory service performed again.
Statutory rights have no set time limit – depending
on the price and quality of goods, consumers may
be entitled to a remedy after any manufacturers’ or
extended warranty has expired.
In addition to the legal obligations that the Act says
are a part of any contract between a consumer and
a seller, some businesses offer extra promises about
their goods and services, even though the law does
not require them to.
These promises, often called voluntary or extended
warranties, provide extra customer protection if
problems arise after a sale. Voluntary and extended
warranties may also entitle consumers to a refund,
replacement or repair in the event of a problem.
This kind of promise, if it is offered, is in addition to
consumers’ statutory rights – statutory rights cannot
be overruled.
Warranties & Refunds_DL_06.09_07426_FA.indd 1 18/06/2009 12:37:03 PM
2
About this guide
This publication contains important information for
consumers and businesses about their rights and
obligations under the Act.
It includes information about:
• the legal requirements that apply to every
transaction between a consumer and a seller,
known as statutory conditions and statutory
warranties
• consumers’ rights when there is a problem after a
sale, including when they are entitled to a remedy
for unsatisfactory goods and services
• extra warranties offered by sellers, often called
voluntary warranties and extended warranties
• what consumers can do when there is a problem
• the obligations of manufacturers and importers
• contact details for state and territory fair trading
agencies (also called consumer affairs) that may
be able to help consumers resolve problems.
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for you, if you are:
• a consumer
• a seller of goods or services
• a manufacturer or importer of goods or services.
Warranties & Refunds_DL_06.09_07426_FA.indd 2 18/06/2009 12:37:03 PM
WARRANTIES AND REFUNDS
a guide for consumers and business
3
Who is a consumer?
The statutory rights in this guide apply to people who
fit the definition of a consumer.
The Act says a ‘consumer’ is a person or corporation
who acquires:
• goods or services normally meant for personal or
household purposes
• any other type of goods or services costing less
than $40 000
• a commercial road vehicle or trailer used mainly
to transport goods on public roads.
A person or business that acquires goods in order to
on-sell them or to make a profit is not a consumer.
What is the ACCC’s role?
The Australian Competition and Consumer
Commission (the ACCC) has several roles in relation
to the statutory rights and obligations set out in the
Act. The ACCC can:
1) Investigate complaints and take action against
sellers who have breached the Act – for instance,
by engaging in misleading or deceptive conduct in
relation to the statutory rights and obligations.
For example, we can take court action against a
business that claims it will not issue a refund under
any circumstances (this kind of claim is misleading
because sellers are required to issue refunds in
some cases).
The Act treats this type of breach as serious
and conduct of this kind can result in fines of up
to $1.1 million for businesses and $220 000 for
individuals.
Consumers or businesses who want to complain
about or report conduct that breaches the Act
Warranties & Refunds_DL_06.09_07426_FA.indd 3 18/06/2009 12:37:03 PM
4
should contact the ACCC Infocentre on
1300 302 502.
This guide’s section on Misleading consumers
about their rights has more information about
the kinds of behaviour that may be misleading.
2) Inform consumers and businesses about the
rights and obligations implied by the Act in
contracts for goods and services.
3) Suggest possible courses of action consumers
or businesses might take to negotiate remedies
or resolve disputes.
4) Help consumers and businesses find the right
agency to complain to (if this isn’t the ACCC).
What can’t we do?
The ACCC cannot:
1) Become involved in private contractual disputes
on behalf of consumers (including those
concerning warranty claims).
If goods or services do not meet one of the
statutory conditions or statutory warranties, it is
up to a consumer to pursue their own remedy
or, if necessary, take action to resolve a dispute,
such as writing a complaint letter or contacting
their state fair trading office (who may be able to
negotiate on their behalf).
This guide provides information on what
consumers can do in these circumstances.
2) Give legal or professional advice, or reveal
how many or what type of complaints we have
received about a business.
Warranties & Refunds_DL_06.09_07426_FA.indd 4 18/06/2009 12:37:04 PM
WARRANTIES AND REFUNDS
a guide for consumers and business
5
Goods and services: what the law
requires in every sale
Every time a consumer buys goods or services,
they are entering into a contract with the seller.
The Act says every one of these contracts
contains a number of obligations that sellers must
honour. In legal language, these are ‘implied’ into
the contract and exist even if they are not set out
in writing.
There are two types of statutory obligations
implied into contracts by the Act: statutory
conditions and statutory warranties.
Statutory conditions are the essential terms of a
contract – that is, they ‘break’ the deal between
consumer and seller if they are not met.
Statutory warranties are secondary
considerations that are important but do not
necessarily ‘make or break’ the deal in the same
way as statutory conditions.
Supply of goods
In all contracts for goods, consumers are
protected by the inclusion of a number of statutory
conditions and statutory warranties.
The statutory conditions require that:
1) Goods must be of merchantable quality – they
must meet a level of quality and performance
that would be reasonable to expect, given their
price and description. They should also be free
from defects that were not obvious at the time
of purchase.
One of Sharon’s new shoes loses its heel the
first time she wears it outside. The shoe is not of
merchantable quality.


2) Goods must be fit for their intended purpose
– they should be suitable for any particular
purpose the buyer made known to the seller.