#digital license disclosure

Valve has updated its Steam store checkout process with a new, more transparent disclosure, stating that when users buy a game, they are actually purchasing a license to access that digital content, not ownership of the game itself. The message reads: "A purchase of a digital product grants a license for the product on Steam," highlighting the shift toward better transparency in the digital marketplace. The law will require digital storefronts, like Steam, to explicitly state that customers are only purchasing a license for digital media. It prohibits digital platforms from using terms like "buy" or "purchase" unless they specify that what’s being sold is merely a license. Digital storefronts will also need to link to the terms and conditions of the license, which Valve appears to already be doing with this update. With this new disclosure, Valve is likely getting ahead of potential legal issues and complying with regulations that aim to make the digital marketplace more transparent. Read more in our articles including "You’re Buying a License, Not a Game - Steam Clarifies" and "Nintendo and Western Digital announce licensed microSD cards for Switch".