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French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

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Re: French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

#21

Post by quaquaqua1 »

golergka wrote: post #14

This is absurd. When I buy a game on Steam, I fully understand that it doesn't have any resale value – and I easily agree to this deal, because I choose to forgo resale rights so I can get the game cheaper. But now this court have effectively destroyed my freedom to make this choice as a customer. And to add insult to injury, it's done this under the pretense of defending my rights, as if I'm an idiot who's not capab…

The more I think about this, the more it sounds generally correct to me. It should be proper that a "no resale rights version" is offered at a cheaper price compared to a higher priced "this is an asset you can resell" just like an N64 cartridge or etc.

There are benefits to both models and the user and company should have the freedom to offer both.

Re: French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

#22

Post by archi42 »

golergka wrote: post #14

This is absurd. When I buy a game on Steam, I fully understand that it doesn't have any resale value – and I easily agree to this deal, because I choose to forgo resale rights so I can get the game cheaper. But now this court have effectively destroyed my freedom to make this choice as a customer. And to add insult to injury, it's done this under the pretense of defending my rights, as if I'm an idiot who's not capab…

For some titles there is no option to get a "resale allowed version". E.g. I bought a retail version of Borderlands 2 several years ago on DVD (long time post release, was like 20 Euro in a local games store). Well, turned out that DVD basically was a Steam Installer plus key (of course, that's a decision made by the publisher).

Also, "so I can get the game cheaper" - do you? When I buy a newly released game on Steam it's usually in the 50 to 60 Euro range. Most games I buy are a lot cheaper, but they're usually a few years old by the time I pull the trigger.

Still, I also have mixed feelings. If games get a resale value, it will be more difficult to earn money making games. Especially those with great, but short content.

Re: French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

#23

Post by chrischen »

chongli wrote: post #9

Personally, I like the fact that Steam games can’t be resold. Why? Because that keeps the prices down since the resale value of a game does not need to be included in the price. If games could be resold then I’d have to go through the trouble of reselling them in order to recoup the difference.

Actually you’re just subsidizing the people who can resell their physical disk copies.

Re: French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

#24

Post by Causality1 »

archi42 wrote: post #22
golergka wrote: post #14

This is absurd. When I buy a game on Steam, I fully understand that it doesn't have any resale value – and I easily agree to this deal, because I choose to forgo resale rights so I can get the game cheaper. But now this court have effectively destroyed my freedom to make this choice as a customer. And to add insult to injury, it's done this under the pretense of defending my rights, as if I'm an idiot who's not capab…

For some titles there is no option to get a "resale allowed version". E.g. I bought a retail version of Borderlands 2 several years ago on DVD (long time post release, was like 20 Euro in a local games store). Well, turned out that DVD basically was a Steam Installer plus key (of course, that's a decision made by the publisher). Also, "so I can get the game cheaper" - do you? When I buy a newly released game on Steam…

On the upside, having resale value is a direct attack on loot boxes, micro transactions, and other forms of in-game financial exploitation. You might be less likely to sink a thousand dollars into loot boxes if you're thinking about selling the game.

Re: French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

#26

Post by [deleted] »

chongli wrote: post #9

Personally, I like the fact that Steam games can’t be resold. Why? Because that keeps the prices down since the resale value of a game does not need to be included in the price. If games could be resold then I’d have to go through the trouble of reselling them in order to recoup the difference.

[deleted]

Re: French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

#27

Post by Barrin92 »

chongli wrote: post #9

Personally, I like the fact that Steam games can’t be resold. Why? Because that keeps the prices down since the resale value of a game does not need to be included in the price. If games could be resold then I’d have to go through the trouble of reselling them in order to recoup the difference.

>If games could be resold then I’d have to go through the trouble of reselling them in order to recoup the difference.

works both ways, you'd also have the opportunity to buy a resold game, which in the case of digital goods would not appear to make a difference.

Re: French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

#28

Post by waste_monk »

big_chungus wrote: post #16
impalallama wrote: post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Steams refund policy came about not long after being convicted in Australian court for not allowing them.

"convicted"? It seems as though this would be a civil issue, not criminal. I'm not sure to which case you're referring in Australia, but it appears this case was civil.

https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/full-federal-court-con...

TL;DR they got a big fine and also had to put a message on the storefront informing customers of their rights under Australian consumer law.

Re: French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

#29

Post by benologist »

sparkpeasy wrote: post #4

"Although its unlikely a policy change this momentous would be made, Valve has a history of making changes based on court rulings it’s involved in." Sooo...Valve has a history of changing its policies to follow the law?

Yes. They were fined over a million dollars in Australia for inventing a refund policy of "go fuck yourself", which it turns out is simply criminal in some jurisdictions. They stole from an estimated 20,000 Australians with that fraud, unfortunately they dodged accountability where the other 95% of their customers are located, but they did implement a more ethical refund policy when they realized how badly they messed up by banning people who asked for lawful refunds and eliminating their entire purchased library.

https://www.ibtimes.com/steam-vs-australia-valve-fined-3-mil...

GOG carry on the tradition with a refund policy designed not to refund anyone and begging for a judge to examine it. Their intention is to prove the game you purchased can open thus you might play it so all purchases are de facto final.

Re: French high court rules that Steam can’t ban users from reselling digital games

#30

Post by archi42 »

Causality1 wrote: post #24
archi42 wrote: post #22

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For some titles there is no option to get a "resale allowed version". E.g. I bought a retail version of Borderlands 2 several years ago on DVD (long time post release, was like 20 Euro in a local games store). Well, turned out that DVD basically was a Steam Installer plus key (of course, that's a decision made by the publisher). Also, "so I can get the game cheaper" - do you? When I buy a newly released game on Steam…

On the upside, having resale value is a direct attack on loot boxes, micro transactions, and other forms of in-game financial exploitation. You might be less likely to sink a thousand dollars into loot boxes if you're thinking about selling the game.

Good point. I was skeptical of DLCs when they first game about, but if they're decent quality/effort expansions, then that's fine with me. But games with the kind of exploitation you mention I stay away from, and as someone who regards games as a kind of art, I can't see how our cultural heritage benefits from this... kind of games (I'd like to add some not-so-nice words aimed at the beneficiaries of these "games", but those words seem inappropriate for HN).

//edited a little bit ;)

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