A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam.

[SportyHeadShot]

The scary part is licenses can be revoked or expire.........

I long for the 80s when it felt like you could own a game forever 😍...... at least until the electronics in the cartridge failed 😔 or the CD became far too scratched to continue... will I ever need a license to operate my super mario 3 cartridge someday??

[d3str0y3r]

Originally posted by SportyHeadShot:

The scary part is licenses can be revoked or expire.........

I long for the 80s when it felt like you could own a game forever 😍...... at least until the electronics in the cartridge failed 😔 or the CD became far too scratched to continue... will I ever need a license to operate my super mario 3 cartridge someday??

Nothing has changed, software has been licensed not sold from the start, even games. They can just enforce it easier now.

[Komarimaru]

Welcome to 1966. Oh, wait, not changed and going into 2025, still the same as it was back in 1966. Now you know, sadly most never knew for all these decades which is disappointing and sad.

[ReBoot]

Originally posted by SportyHeadShot:

The scary part is licenses can be revoked or expire.........

Do they though? Theoretical possibilities is a great way to drive oneself mad. There's a non-zero possibility to get killed by a space rock dropping onto one's head, yet people (usually) don't wear helmets when going outside.

Steam licenses don't expire (unless you voluntarily paid for a subscription).

The only thing that actually, genuinely, REALLY happens is when you buy a license from some shady place, then that license can get revoked. Properly bought licenses don't expire. Rule of thumb: if it's on IsThereAnyDeal, it's a legit shop.

Originally posted by SportyHeadShot:

I long for the 80s when it felt like you could own a game forever 😍...... at least until the electronics in the cartridge failed 😔 or the CD became far too scratched to continue... will I ever need a license to operate my super mario 3 cartridge someday??

... and nowadays, I simply re-download the game if my SSD dies and keep on playing as if nothing happened. Frankly, 2FA is annoying, I don't ♥♥♥♥♥♥♥ want to haul my ass up and get my phone from another room when I already got a PC right here where I am. However, getting CDs/Cartridges from the same room (i.e. getting up from the couch) isn't that much less annoying.

[temper]

Your steam account is going to last longer than you will and all of the games you buy on it (legally) will always be downloadable whenever you login until your death (and even after that).

That sounds forever enough to me.

[Nx Machina]

Thread title: A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam.

And not just on Steam but also Epic Games Store, Rockstar Launcher, Ubisoft Connect, EA Play app, GOG Galaxy, Battlenet app, Microsoft Store.

Example: The Witcher 3 available on Steam, Epic Game Store, GOG Galaxy.

2. WHAT YOU GET WITH THE GAME

We (meaning CD PROJEKT RED) give you the personal right (called a 'licence' legally) to download, install and play The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt on your personal computer as long as you follow these Rules. This licence is for your personal use only (so you can't give a sublicense to someone else) and doesn't give you ownership rights.

The Eula (licence) is applicable to all three stores.

The Eula also applies to the offline backup installer version on GOG.

[76561198407601200]

Originally posted by SportyHeadShot:

The scary part is licenses can be revoked or expire.........

I long for the 80s when it felt like you could own a game forever 😍...... at least until the electronics in the cartridge failed 😔 or the CD became far too scratched to continue... will I ever need a license to operate my super mario 3 cartridge someday??

And if that physical medium failed were you entitled to then go to the store and ask for another copy for free since you believe you owned something more than a license for that 1 copy?

[Princess Luna]

Originally posted by d3str0y3r:

software has been licensed not sold from the start, even games. They can just enforce it easier now.

Nothing has changed,?

Let see

1) I can install Carmageddon and Unreal Tournament from CD with key. That key in unrevokable
2) Games that were sold on cartridge - they cant take it back.
3) GOG allows to download copy of game so I can play offine. You saying they can demand it back?

Yeah nothing changed.

[Komarimaru]

Originally posted by Princess Luna:

Originally posted by d3str0y3r:

software has been licensed not sold from the start, even games. They can just enforce it easier now.

Nothing has changed,?

Let see

1) I can install Carmageddon and Unreal Tournament from CD with key. That key in unrevokable
2) Games that were sold on cartridge - they cant take it back.
3) GOG allows to download copy of game so I can play offine. You saying they can demand it back?

Yeah nothing changed.

1. Correct, but always was just a license granted, the physical media was just the distribution method at the time. Once said media no longer works, there goes the license.
2. Don't look at modern Nintendo games, people have had their consoles banned for illegally obtained licenses. Bricking the system to boot for some.
3. GoG is not the savior you think it is. They still sell just a license and even had to legally tell you this. And they've already lost license rights to a few games so can't be bought anymore. If they ever revoke your license, then legally you have to destroy your copy, or face account restrictions.

[Nx Machina]

Originally posted by Princess Luna:

Nothing has changed,?

Let see

1) I can install Carmageddon and Unreal Tournament from CD with key. That key in unrevokable
2) Games that were sold on cartridge - they cant take it back.
3) GOG allows to download copy of game so I can play offine. You saying they can demand it back?

Yeah nothing changed.

Carmageddon and Unreal Tournament are licenced to you. You only owned the disc. The key merely gave you access.

Games on cartridge are licenced to you. You only owned the cartridge.

Offline installers on GOG come with a Eula.

As for GOG as the saviour you agree to their terms when using the service online or offline when you create an account.

https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/212632089-GOG-User-Agreement?product=gog

"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."

[temper]

Originally posted by Princess Luna:

Originally posted by d3str0y3r:

software has been licensed not sold from the start, even games. They can just enforce it easier now.

1) I can install Carmageddon and Unreal Tournament from CD with key. That key in unrevokable

Most physical pc games were sold with drm too. Although they couldn't be revoked in the traditional sense, the drm could still prevent you from playing the game. Buggy drm not allowing you to play games properly was actually a fairly common issue too, people had entire websites dedicated to uploading fixes for games you already paid for. A lot of those old games also no longer work in the modern day because of their outdated drm.

Here's a rant about it from around 2007: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mt4BpnfAN-o

Your other points also have nothing to do with what the person was saying. Even gog confirms they don't give you the actual game but a license for it.

"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."
https://support.gog.com/hc/en-us/articles/212632089-GOG-User-Agreement?product=gog

The person was simply saying nothing has changed in regards to you not legally owning the game itself and just the license to use it, and that it's just easier to enforce now.

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by SportyHeadShot:

The scary part is licenses can be revoked or expire.........

I long for the 80s when it felt like you could own a game forever 😍...... at least until the electronics in the cartridge failed 😔 or the CD became far too scratched to continue... will I ever need a license to operate my super mario 3 cartridge someday??

Believe it or not those carts were bound by licenses as well.

And yes Licenses can expire, or be revoked. The latter is rare and tends to ppertain rto games with an entirely or predominantly online mechanics. Like MMO's.. The latter only applies if you act in breach of the license agreement.

[Princess Luna]

Originally posted by Komarimaru:

Originally posted by Princess Luna:

Nothing has changed,?

Let see

1) I can install Carmageddon and Unreal Tournament from CD with key. That key in unrevokable
2) Games that were sold on cartridge - they cant take it back.
3) GOG allows to download copy of game so I can play offine. You saying they can demand it back?

Yeah nothing changed.

1. Correct, but always was just a license granted, the physical media was just the distribution method at the time. Once said media no longer works, there goes the license.
2. Don't look at modern Nintendo games, people have had their consoles banned for illegally obtained licenses. Bricking the system to boot for some.
3. GoG is not the savior you think it is. They still sell just a license and even had to legally tell you this. And they've already lost license rights to a few games so can't be bought anymore. If they ever revoke your license, then legally you have to destroy your copy, or face account restrictions.

1) Nevertheless - i have a CD with key I can play. If we both have a CD with keys with can play pvp. Good luck trying to revoke that

2. I dont feel sorry for Nintendont user. They get restrictions but still praise console.
Anyway, i dont think Atari could have taken back their cartridges?
I bough it - I own it.

3. Sad. I thought i can play offline without they tracking me

[Start_Running]

Originally posted by Princess Luna:

Originally posted by Komarimaru:

1. Correct, but always was just a license granted, the physical media was just the distribution method at the time. Once said media no longer works, there goes the license.
2. Don't look at modern Nintendo games, people have had their consoles banned for illegally obtained licenses. Bricking the system to boot for some.
3. GoG is not the savior you think it is. They still sell just a license and even had to legally tell you this. And they've already lost license rights to a few games so can't be bought anymore. If they ever revoke your license, then legally you have to destroy your copy, or face account restrictions.

1) Nevertheless - i have a CD with key I can play. If we both have a CD with keys with can play pvp. Good luck trying to revoke that

If you breach the terms legal action can be taken and the disc will be seized. In addition to fines and/or possible prison time.

[Thiesen]

"The Crew" comes to mind...

[Princess Luna]

Originally posted by temper:

Most physical pc games were sold with drm too. Although they couldn't be revoked in the traditional sense, the drm could still prevent you from playing the game.

Buggy drm aside, if i have a disk for a game that does not require online server to work i can play it.

Lets say i have PS4 Blu Ray Disc for SPYRO Reignited Trilogy
https://www.ebay.com/itm/375632192400
You cant take disk back or prohibit me to play it

How anti-piracy screws over people who buy PC Games
Then why people stil want to suffer Denuvo?
Wanted to play this game https://store.steampowered.com/app/2374190/Nikoderiko/ but whoops - DRM.

Originally posted by temper:

The person was simply saying nothing has changed in regards to you not legally owning the game itself and just the license to use it, and that it's just easier to enforce now.

Please dont fool yourself that nothing has changed.

You bought a physical CD/book - you use it non-revokably

Now?

1) Amazon Erases Orwell Books From Kindle.
https://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/technology/companies/18amazon.html
Can a book store remove a physical book from customer?

2) What, Rockstar removing old GTA Games from store?
https://steamcommunity.com/app/12120/discussions/0/3084394448731781987
To sell remastered trash?
That so anti-customer