https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4bZRIwI-QA
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2024/09/californian-law-dictates-storefronts-be-honest-about-digital-game-ownership
Californian Law Dictates Storefronts Be Honest About Digital Game Ownership
A new Californian law will come into effect in 2025 that will effectively force digital storefronts to disclose that buyers don't actually own their digital puchases, but rather simply licensing the content.
Naturally, we suspect that most of our audience will already be aware of this, but it's entirely possible that more casual gamers will not be privy to the way that digital storefronts function. Effectively, then, as reported by The Verge (thanks, Time Extension)digital storefronts will be restricted from using the words "buy, purchase, or any other term which a reasonable person would understand to confer an unrestricted ownership interest in the digital good or alongside an option for a time-limited rental."
Unless, that is, that they expressly disclose that users are licensing the content. This disclosure includes ensuring customers are informed that licenses can be revoked at any time and that certain restrictions to purchases may apply. Any violations of this law may result in fines for false advertising.
California Assembly member and bill author Jacqui Irwin stated:
"As retailers continue to pivot away from selling physical media, the need for consumer protections on the purchase of digital media has become increasingly more important. I thank the Governor for signing AB 2426, ensuring the false and deceptive advertising from sellers of digital media incorrectly telling consumers they own their purchases becomes a thing of the past."
https://www.theverge.com/2024/9/26/24254922/california-digital-purchase-disclosure-law-ab-2426
California’s new law forces digital stores to admit you’re just licensing content, not buying it
https://digitaldemocracy.calmatters.org/bills/ca_202320240ab2426
AB 2426: Consumer protection: false advertising: digital goods.
This bill would, subject to specified exceptions, additionally prohibit a seller of a digital good from advertising or offering for sale a digital good, as defined, to a purchaser with the terms buy, purchase, or any other term which a reasonable person would understand to confer an unrestricted ownership interest in the digital good, or alongside an option for a time-limited rental, unless the seller receives at the time of each transaction an affirmative acknowledgment from the purchaser, or the seller provides to the consumer before executing each transaction a clear and conspicuous statement, as specified. By expanding the scope of a crime, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.