Legislation to force ownership of Steam games by the customer.

[REPENT]

When you buy a game on steam, steam will say "you now own this game" even though that isn't true. You don't own your steam games. But i think you should own them. There should he legistlation that compels Valve to give the customer full ownership of the game. Meaning that I can share my downloaded games with my friends, and I can transfer ownership of my games if that's my desire.

Seems like there needs to be a big reckoning for digital storefronts. Customers deserve more respect than what they get now. I should own the games that I paid for. Valve should not own the games that I paid for. There should be a new law to rectify this.

[REPENT]

Someone should teach Gabe Newell that he doesn't deserve to own the games that I paid for. Gabe could stand to learn a thing or two. Then again, I do assume that Gabe is a freemason. So I'm not expecting much from Gabe.

[Crazy Tiger]

You're decades late, my friend, that's how licensing has always worked. Also keep in mind that if legislation catches up, the game devs/publishers/platforms will find a new way. You know, subscriptions, GaaS and such.

That said, I worked in sales and customer support for so long, no, customers severely overestimate their own value and worth. Respect, lol.

[Aachen]

You won’t seize all rights from some software’s rightful owner. Good luck with your legislative campaign, though.

Strange you’re running it here, rather than directed toward government officials.

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by Paul Is False:

Someone should teach Gabe Newell that he doesn't deserve to own the games that I paid for.

The only games that Newell owns any stake in are the ones developed and published by Valve.

Seriously, could you children please educate yourselves over how licensing works?

[cSg|mc-Hotsauce]

Originally posted by Paul Is False:

Legislation to force ownership of Steam games by the customer.

When you buy a game on steam, steam will say "you now own this game" even though that isn't true. You don't own your steam games. But i think you should own them. There should he legistlation that compels Valve to give the customer full ownership of the game. Meaning that I can share my downloaded games with my friends, and I can transfer ownership of my games if that's my desire.

Seems like there needs to be a big reckoning for digital storefronts. Customers deserve more respect than what they get now. I should own the games that I paid for. Valve should not own the games that I paid for. There should be a new law to rectify this.

Steam Families is already a thing for "sharing."

[J4MESOX4D]

If you want legislation then you are not only in the wrong place, but almost two decades too late. We are past the point of no return and companies are even focusing more towards subscriptions where you have zero ownership in a rental framework.

The days of hoping for a protective centralised entity are long gone.

[Qbert ⭐]

Originally posted by Chika Ogiue:

Originally posted by Paul Is False:

Someone should teach Gabe Newell that he doesn't deserve to own the games that I paid for.

The only games that Newell owns any stake in are the ones developed and published by Valve.

Seriously, could you children please educate yourselves over how licensing works?

You're asking too much for OP

[xBCxRangers]

You're right OP. This is yet another issue, Steam has not, will not address.

[Crazy Tiger]

Originally posted by MrNewell123:

You're right OP. This is yet another issue, Steam has not, will not address.

Cause it's not an issue specific to Steam, but a general licensing issue.

I keep finding it odd how people keep doing that, somehow make a problem specific when it's not.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Originally posted by Paul Is False:

When you buy a game on steam, steam will say "you now own this game" even though that isn't true. You don't own your steam games. But i think you should own them. There should he legistlation that compels Valve to give the customer full ownership of the game. Meaning that I can share my downloaded games with my friends, and I can transfer ownership of my games if that's my desire.

Seems like there needs to be a big reckoning for digital storefronts. Customers deserve more respect than what they get now. I should own the games that I paid for. Valve should not own the games that I paid for. There should be a new law to rectify this.

You own a license to access the game. 15-Year-Old account and you're still a wee bit late to the party. It's been this way since 2003.

[Elucidator]

It's always good to talk about questionable subjects and questionable practises, no matter how much time has passed.

Before the internet became big, people sold CDs with music on them.
These CDs already claimed that the content is licensed not sold.
You can go very far back in time to find this nonsense everywhere on each document:
https://youtu.be/s6foyNJdcCk?t=208

However, they rarely explain what licensed means and what sold means. If they didn't sell you a anything, why do you need to pay anything? Perhaps they took your money by tricking you.
The fact is that these comments have "never" been tested in the US courts.
and licensed not sold is a US thing.

At any rate, Steam diffidently uses the term "Own" "Owner" "Owning the copy", "Purchase" and "Product or service" rather than just license when you make the actual transfer or ask for support. The only place License is used is in the SSA.
which makes it hard to hold up

and it also causes problems, for example with family sharing. Apparently a family member "owns" the product. How is that possible if no one owns anything? It gets very tricky if you look at the details....

And there is also that English is used as a vague indirect language rather than to be explicitly clear. What does Owning anything mean? I get your case, you just want the ability to share stuff with your friends and trade games or something, which is natural; likely something the EU will fight for I assume. (or they will try at least.)
but... like ownership, it means something different per country.

Where I live, it simply means you have 'ownership rights and ownership responsibility', so the product belongs to you in the sense that, if it breaks, its my problem.
I own "the copy" not the original idea/work. ownerhip and copyright are entirely separated where I live so, ownership- for example, owning a house, doesn't give you all copyright over the design of the house-- so it won't allow you to DCMA complaint claim other houses that use the same design.

Ownership simply means you have the right of control over that copy, basically.
so... why would that not apply to digital software? There shouldn't be an issue. Yet- apparently in the US, ownership 'can' mean you have the right to claim copyright basically. It's different. Because of those nonsense things they have to use odd legal questionable wording.

To avoid ownership, they have to avoid the words 'sold to you', even though you 'purchased' 'the product' and so ... own stuff. which---
well its a spiral that makes no sense to me either lol. Ask an advocate or some legal agent to look at it and why they mess with your head.

[Zefar]

Originally posted by Elucidator:

Ownership simply means you have the right of control over that copy, basically.
so... why would that not apply to digital software? There shouldn't be an issue. Yet- apparently in the US, ownership 'can' mean you have the right to claim copyright basically. It's different. Because of those nonsense things they have to use odd legal questionable wording.

Probably because you need the Steam service to run the game and it's where you download it from. Then if there are any patches to the game it's supplied through Steam.

[Chika Ogiue]

Originally posted by MrNewell123:

You're right OP. This is yet another issue, Steam has not, will not address.

The only issue here is people still not understanding intellectual property or the rights related to it. Those truly wanting to understand could, of course, take advantage of any relevant legal experts available in their region. Some could even be fortunate enough to speak to family members or friends in an appropriate line of work, who could then explain it to them without incurring the bill.

But, that would require effort. As we all know, its far easier to remain ignorant and come to forums such as this to rattle figurative pitchforks instead. Why bother learning facts and truth? Remaining blissfully ill informed and blaming the current bogeyman of the month requires far less energy and thought.

[REPENT]

Originally posted by Crazy Tiger:

You're decades late, my friend, that's how licensing has always worked. Also keep in mind that if legislation catches up, the game devs/publishers/platforms will find a new way. You know, subscriptions, GaaS and such.

That said, I worked in sales and customer support for so long, no, customers severely overestimate their own value and worth. Respect, lol.

You are squirreling. Nothing you said changes the facts. I should own the games that I paid for. Steam literally says "you now own this game" after purchase, so maybe its time Steam live up to those empty words. I guess I would be ok with it if an EMP or solar flare were to annihilate Steam forever.

[Animus]

Should and how it works are two different things, especially when on making an account and agreeing to the ToS. You basically agree to how it currently works.

Besides, the argument of physical vs digital media usually circles right back around to digital media not breaking down, and its ability to be copied. Ergo, it can be kept "new" and be copied to endless redistribution.

I'm guessing this is over a few games you no longer want to play, but want to sell off to other users?