Steam has begun displaying a notice in its shopping cart informing users that purchases on its platform are only for a license and not ownership of the game itself, a move likely in anticipation of a new California law set to take effect next year. This notice, visible before proceeding to payment, states that buying a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam, a development that has caught the attention of industry observers. The law signed by California governor Gavin Newsom, known as AB 2426, will require digital marketplaces to explicitly disclose to customers when they are purchasing a license rather than ownership of media. This law will specifically impact digital copies of video games, music, movies, TV shows, and ebooks bought from online platforms, with potential fines for companies that do not accurately communicate the nature of the purchase. The legislation was prompted by incidents like Ubisoft removing ‘The Crew’ from players’ libraries, highlighting the issue of ownership in the digital realm.
