Consumer rights violations for EU citizens and potentially globally

[MachineHead]

Dear Fellow Gamers,

With 16 years of service on my profile, I have been a Steam member, customer and gamer since 2008, a mere 5 years after it first launched. While we still had DVD's and game keys stickered inside our boxes, it was not a necessity when Steam first launched in 2003.

There are many issues in the gaming industry, one of which being that studios abandon entire projects, launch buggy/unstable unfinished products for full price with little to no customer service and our fundamental rights to own the products we purchased are being slowly but surely cut back on.

Whereas I could return a DVD for a game back to the shop within a week over a decade ago, now you have just mere hours to try the game before you cannot return it anymore. That while EU consumer law clearly states that you have a 14 day period and Steam is selling products within the EU and therefore has to adhere to it.

With the current changes to the sharing system for games, Steam has further infringed upon and violated our right to own our products and do with them as we please. In the old sharing system, as we all know, you logged in on a PC, authorized the sharing of your library with other users on that PC and only one account could be playing any game within that library. This was a just and correct solution. If I would have a DVD copy of, for example Bioshock, I can only lend it to one friend as I do not own two copies. This is entirely legal for private use as well.

Steam has now implemented a system, Netflix style (another infringer upon consumer rights), that blocks the ability for us, as customers, to choose what we do with our products. The new Steam "Family" system does not allow for users to share game libraries across borders. Which is a moronic and arbitrary limitation. Seeing as I live in Norway since 2011 and my entire family and many friends are spread across Europe/the Netherlands.

Therefore the demands are simple and clear, Steam must, ought, shall:

- Adhere to EU consumer rights law and DMA (Digital Markets Act)
- Test implementation of business practices against a code of ethics
- "Family" sharing system needs to be immediately changed so users can share with individuals, be it friends, family or acquaintances, their libraries. Obviously only one copy of the license key for a game can be active.

Not complying with these demands is not an option. As current practices are illegal and in violation of existing legal frameworks. For certain in the EU and (as we will read), I am near certain they violate consumer rights in the Americas, Asia and Australia or New Zealand for example.

@Steam:

Steam hereby has 5 working days, business days to comply. If they do not comply I will register the case with respective authorities and ombudsman to remedy their behaviour to force them to comply with the law and respect consumer rights.

This ultimatum ends on the 26th of October 2024 at 14:00 CET. No extensions, but's if's or maybe's will be accepted when it comes to respecting the consumer rights of millions.

Have some decency and restore our rights to use our products which we paid for as we see fit.

[jiggy]

When a paid license becomes free does that not break the license as a consumer

[MachineHead]

Diposting pertama kali oleh aiusepsi:

Diposting pertama kali oleh MachineHead:

That while EU consumer law clearly states that you have a 14 day period and Steam is selling products within the EU and therefore has to adhere to it.

Full text of the EU Consumer Rights Directive:
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32011L0083#d1e40-64-1

Article 9

Right of withdrawal

1. Save where the exceptions provided for in Article 16 apply, the consumer shall have a period of 14 days to withdraw from a distance or off-premises contract, without giving any reason, and without incurring any costs other than those provided for in Article 13(2) and Article 14.

...

Article 16

Exceptions from the right of withdrawal

Member States shall not provide for the right of withdrawal set out in Articles 9 to 15 in respect of distance and off-premises contracts as regards the following:
...
(m) the supply of digital content which is not supplied on a tangible medium if the performance has begun with the consumer’s prior express consent and his acknowledgment that he thereby loses his right of withdrawal.

To buy something on Steam you have to tick a box next to the following text:

I agree to the terms of the Steam Subscriber Agreement (last updated 27 Sep, 2024.)

By clicking the button below to proceed you agree that Valve provides you immediate access to digital content as soon as you complete your purchase, without waiting the 14-day withdrawal period. Therefore, you expressly waive your statutory right to withdraw from this purchase but Valve’s voluntary refund policy still applies.

So, they're in compliance with Article 16(m) and don't have to apply a 14 day period.

Very good, that is a good way of making clear how a company does not care about your rights and asks you to waive them. Making it even clearer that this company needs to change practices, respect consumer rights and relinquish control over our products to the actual customers.

[MachineHead]

Diposting pertama kali oleh ReBoot:

Diposting pertama kali oleh MachineHead:

Steam hereby has 5 working days, business days to comply. If they do not comply I will register the case with respective authorities and ombudsman to remedy their behaviour to force them to comply with the law and respect consumer rights.

This ultimatum ends on the 26th of October 2024 at 14:00 CET. No extensions, but's if's or maybe's will be accepted when it comes to respecting the consumer rights of millions.

Have some decency and restore our rights to use our products which we paid for as we see fit.

Please post updates! Over the years, numerous posters have threatened taking this (or similar ones) matter to the authorities and ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ none of them has kept their promise. Are your u really doing this or just making waves?

Please, pretty ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ please with the most handsome imaginable cherry on top, keep us up-to-date on this!

I will, don't worry.

Regardless of the amount of people that are willing to waive their rights because a corporation says so.

For the nay sayers, this can be done: https://www.gog.com/en/

[MachineHead]

Diposting pertama kali oleh TWiZTED:

+1

20 years on Steam. Not buying anything anymore. Really hope they get sued worldwide. What they did is even unconstitutional on most countries they operate.

It seems it is rare to see anyone who has not been effectively programmed to believe they do not own their product after they buy it. Many posters here are, apparently, willing to forfeit control over their property just so they can get what they want (a game). It is still a business transaction and after it is concluded, I own the product. As should we all.

Thanks mate.

[Brian9824]

Diposting pertama kali oleh MachineHead:

Diposting pertama kali oleh ReBoot:

Please post updates! Over the years, numerous posters have threatened taking this (or similar ones) matter to the authorities and ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ none of them has kept their promise. Are your u really doing this or just making waves?

Please, pretty ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ please with the most handsome imaginable cherry on top, keep us up-to-date on this!

I will, don't worry.

Regardless of the amount of people that are willing to waive their rights because a corporation says so.

For the nay sayers, this can be done: https://www.gog.com/en/

Should actually read their terms

Diposting pertama kali oleh GoG:

2.1 We give you and other GOG users the personal right (known legally as a 'license') to use GOG services and to download, access and/or stream (depending on the content) and use GOG content. This license is for your personal use. We can stop or suspend this license in some situations, which are explained later on.

GoG has the same restrictions and clauses that Steam has always had. EVERY retailer has this as its a standard part of software licensing since software was a thing.

They have the ability and the right to remove licenses, that doesn't mean they do it for no reason

[jiggy]

The next generation

[Boblin the Goblin]

Diposting pertama kali oleh MachineHead:

Diposting pertama kali oleh TWiZTED:

+1

20 years on Steam. Not buying anything anymore. Really hope they get sued worldwide. What they did is even unconstitutional on most countries they operate.

It seems it is rare to see anyone who has not been effectively programmed to believe they do not own their product after they buy it. Many posters here are, apparently, willing to forfeit control over their property just so they can get what they want (a game). It is still a business transaction and after it is concluded, I own the product. As should we all.

Thanks mate.

You don't.

You own the license sold to you. Which is limited. That's the same for all software.

[Brian9824]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Boblin the Goblin:

Diposting pertama kali oleh MachineHead:

It seems it is rare to see anyone who has not been effectively programmed to believe they do not own their product after they buy it. Many posters here are, apparently, willing to forfeit control over their property just so they can get what they want (a game). It is still a business transaction and after it is concluded, I own the product. As should we all.

Thanks mate.

You don't.

You own the license sold to you. Which is limited. That's the same for all software.

Yep, just like if you buy a airline ticket and don't follow the rules they can kick you off the plane without a refund. They only do so if people break the rules even though they have the right to do so whenever they want.

[jiggy]

this looks like karma

[IM4]

#1 The place for making a comment should be at the top under the main comment.

#2 I do agree that Steam is screwing their customers by changing the user agreement so you will not own the game that you have already purchased. They should say this new agreement shall apply to all new purchases of games. Other wise Steam is just STEALING our games and giving us no say in the matter and no choice but to quit steam and lose all the games we bought and all the advancements we made in those games. Who ever heard of a company that sells products tell their customers that they really do not own what they bought? I do not think we would ever get any rebate or be given our games free of Steam since they obviously think they own them in the first place.
I propose to keep my Steam account but I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER GAME FROM Steam EVER AGAIN !!!!

[Knee]

Diposting pertama kali oleh MachineHead:

Diposting pertama kali oleh TWiZTED:

+1

20 years on Steam. Not buying anything anymore. Really hope they get sued worldwide. What they did is even unconstitutional on most countries they operate.

It seems it is rare to see anyone who has not been effectively programmed to believe they do not own their product after they buy it. Many posters here are, apparently, willing to forfeit control over their property just so they can get what they want (a game). It is still a business transaction and after it is concluded, I own the product. As should we all.

Thanks mate.

It’s not your property though. You just pay to access it privately. None of the assets become yours to possess or distribute.

[xBCxRangers]

Diposting pertama kali oleh Brian9824:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Boblin the Goblin:

You don't.

You own the license sold to you. Which is limited. That's the same for all software.

Yep, just like if you buy a airline ticket and don't follow the rules they can kick you off the plane without a refund. They only do so if people break the rules even though they have the right to do so whenever they want.

They are guided by FAA and Federal Laws, one of which interfering with operations and staff can carry up to 20 years in prison. Therefore, when you break the law, there would not be expectations of a refund.

That is not at all the case here.

Please leave these legal issues to those who know them, and stick to "how too's" in how to beat Dark Souls please.

[xBCxRangers]

We need much more guidance in our laws, in our respective countries to end these "licenses" to steal. It has already been established, we are leasing these licenses, not owning them.

Therefore our states, and countries need to emphasize these facts, and come out with more guided laws to change these policies, or, make pricing adjusted to that of a Lease Agreement, rather than an expectation of owning, anything, that is sold at these gaming sites.

[Tito Shivan]

Diposting pertama kali oleh MachineHead:

Very good, that is a good way of making clear how a company does not care about your rights and asks you to waive them. Making it even clearer that this company needs to change practices, respect consumer rights and relinquish control over our products to the actual customers.

FYI: That waiver is EU regulation.

Diposting pertama kali oleh MachineHead:

#2 I do agree that Steam is screwing their customers by changing the user agreement so you will not own the game that you have already purchased.

Nothing on that regard has ever changed on the user agreement.

[Brian9824]

Diposting pertama kali oleh xBCxRangers:

Diposting pertama kali oleh Brian9824:

Yep, just like if you buy a airline ticket and don't follow the rules they can kick you off the plane without a refund. They only do so if people break the rules even though they have the right to do so whenever they want.

They are guided by FAA and Federal Laws, one of which interfering with operations and staff can carry up to 20 years in prison. Therefore, when you break the law, there would not be expectations of a refund.

That is not at all the case here.

Please leave these legal issues to those who know them, and stick to "how too's" in how to beat Dark Souls please.

Same thing with Disney, Movie theater, Theme park, and any private venue. Fortunately some of us when we speak are actually knowledgeable about the law. Other users however like to roleplay and pretend they are former cops among other things.