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Steam Adds the Harsh Truth That You're Buying 'A License,' Not the Game Itself

In response to California's new law targeting "false advertising" of "digital goods," Valve has added the following language to its checkout page: "A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam." Ars Technica reports: California's AB2426 law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom ...

Gavin Newsom Sept. 26, excludes subscription-only services, free games, and digital goods that offer "permanent offline download to an external storage source to be used without a connection to the internet." And they must explain, conspicuously, in plain language, that "the digital good is a license" and link to terms and conditions. Which is what Valve has now added to its cart page before enforcement of these terms was due to start next year.

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