Valve pulls a Sony

[Lana Torrin]

ITT: some people should look up what 'arbitration' actually means and entails.

Let me tell you what it doesn't mean: you automatically get fucked over by the corporation.

Valve's offer to cover the costs (up to a high enough point) is actually quite attractive for a single Joe-with-a-grievance. And since class-action suits aren't available in much of the world outside the US; my feeling is that the only people crying into their beers over this will be US class-action litigators; a group of lawyers not known for actually providing value-for-money for their clients (but lots for themselves).

e: above actually had nothing to do with Steph's post ...

This thread is actually full of people claiming everyone else is butthurt.

I was just interested to know what would happen to the games you bought before the eula restricted your legal rights (presumably you agreed to the previous version but not the new one for some reason)

If you can still play them but not purchase new ones until you agree to the new eula then this is fair. Otherwise I was considering disagreeing and claiming all of the costs back for the games I can no longer access (bait and switch) just so I got a fist full of cash back for the games I no longer play.

[Bartholomeus Crane]

ITT: some people should look up what 'arbitration' actually means and entails.

Let me tell you what it doesn't mean: you automatically get fucked over by the corporation.

Valve's offer to cover the costs (up to a high enough point) is actually quite attractive for a single Joe-with-a-grievance. And since class-action suits aren't available in much of the world outside the US; my feeling is that the only people crying into their beers over this will be US class-action litigators; a group of lawyers not known for actually providing value-for-money for their clients (but lots for themselves).

e: above actually had nothing to do with Steph's post ...

This thread is actually full of people claiming everyone else is butthurt.

I was just interested to know what would happen to the games you bought before the eula restricted your legal rights (presumably you agreed to the previous version but not the new one for some reason)

If you can still play them but not purchase new ones until you agree to the new eula then this is fair. Otherwise I was considering disagreeing and claiming all of the costs back for the games I can no longer access (bait and switch) just so I got a fist full of cash back for the games I no longer play.

Actually, that is an interesting question.

Now, if you still have access to games already bought through/with Steam, then I don't see any grounds for a claim.

However, if you are denied access to those games? Is that because making those games available to you is the service Steam provides (i.e., you don't own the games as property, you just own the right to access them)? Seem unlikely, but if so, I don't see how you can claim damages then.

If, on the other hand (more likely) Steam is just the medium through which you bought those games as property, not being able to play those games without Steam means denying you use or access to your legally acquired property. I should think you can claim damages on that.

In a class-action suit if you want to BTW. You haven't agreed to the waiver. You'll be paying your own legal costs though ...

I think I'll have to go read my Steam EULA now ...

[Krugerrand]

Its more complicated as well due to games are generally considered on licence rather than technically yours.

Sent via magic or something

[Jason Marshall]

Meh, will continue to buy from Valve.

[Navigator Six]

Meh, will continue to buy from Valve.

+1. Doesn't seem like that big of a deal and, unlike Sony, Valve is a pretty cool company.

[Hels]

Thread now on Hels' scope.

Look at what you've done.

[Nobody_Holme]

Going to mail valve support about what my situation is with the new EULA. Offline mode on steam and downloading all steam installer files to disc might work as-is and no need to use the service online so never agree to new terms. Let's see what they say, anyway.

[Bartholomeus Crane]

Its more complicated as well due to games are generally considered on licence rather than technically yours.

Sent via magic or something

True, and that does make things more complicated.

However, presumable I would have agreed to the license agreement prior to the change in the EULA. So even if I don't own those games as property, how can a change in Steam's EULA retro-actively change my license agreement with the games developers?

[Nobody_Holme]

Its more complicated as well due to games are generally considered on licence rather than technically yours.

Sent via magic or something

True, and that does make things more complicated.

However, presumable I would have agreed to the license agreement prior to the change in the EULA. So even if I don't own those games as property, how can a change in Steam's EULA retro-actively change my license agreement with the games developers?

Developers not responsible in licence for use of steam service. Possibly use real steam installs with steam-removing cracks without breaking the law as YOU didn't bo anything to the executable and you legitimately own the product, just I don't know how you proove that when the police ask you to.

[Krugerrand]

Its more complicated as well due to games are generally considered on licence rather than technically yours.

Sent via magic or something

True, and that does make things more complicated.

However, presumable I would have agreed to the license agreement prior to the change in the EULA. So even if I don't own those games as property, how can a change in Steam's EULA retro-actively change my license agreement with the games developers?

Often where a game is linked to steam you agree to the platforms tos. Its a very fun area.

Sent via magic or something

[Nordstern]

Its more complicated as well due to games are generally considered on licence rather than technically yours.

Sent via magic or something

True, and that does make things more complicated.

However, presumable I would have agreed to the license agreement prior to the change in the EULA. So even if I don't own those games as property, how can a change in Steam's EULA retro-actively change my license agreement with the games developers?

Often where a game is linked to steam you agree to the platforms tos. Its a very fun area.

Sent via magic or something

Again, smells like a bait-and-switch once market saturation has occurred. If they do that, that is.