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Valve Loses Australian Court Battle Over Steam (computerworld.com.au)
angry tapir writes: Valve Software has lost court action launched against it by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The Australian court case centered on the refund policies of Valve Software's Steam digital distribution service. Some of Steam's refund policies contradicted the statutory guarantees of the Australian Consumer Law, the court found. A hearing on penalties is yet to be held.
Such "false or misleading representations about guarantees" include: consumers were not entitled to a refund for digitally downloaded games purchased from Valve via the Steam website or Steam Client (in any circumstances); Valve had excluded statutory guarantees and/or warranties that goods would be of acceptable quality; and Valve had restricted or modified statutory guarantees and/or warranties of acceptable quality. Valve has contested ACCC's arguments on a number of grounds.
Such "false or misleading representations about guarantees" include: consumers were not entitled to a refund for digitally downloaded games purchased from Valve via the Steam website or Steam Client (in any circumstances); Valve had excluded statutory guarantees and/or warranties that goods would be of acceptable quality; and Valve had restricted or modified statutory guarantees and/or warranties of acceptable quality. Valve has contested ACCC's arguments on a number of grounds.
It's an attempt by corporations to rewrite/bypass existing laws, and prevent you from having any recourse by forcing you to agree to arbitration (conducted by someone friendly to the outcome of the corporation).
Despite the idiocy we've been seeing as courts (*cough* American *cough*) decide it's OK for companies to fuck over consumers with bullshit EULAs which skirt around the law, I'm glad to see some common sense.
Of course, expect the next round of "trade negotiations" (*cough* American *cough*) to work to undermine this.
Because, let's face it, America is all lubed up and on the payroll of multinational corporations.
Lost at C:>. Found at C.
I dunno about you, but I like to have at least the minimum protection that the products I buy somewhat resemble what it says on the box, rather than simply being a box full of a picture of a duck in a funny hat. Because fuck you, that's why.
This, might be a good idea to use multiple steam accounts to try and limit the damage.
And before people get on my ass, yeah, he fucked up by either cheating or breaking the rules, sure. No sense in banning him from singleplayer though, that's just insulting.
Probably won't happen anytime soon, but the shitfest that's going to happen when steam shuts down will be crazy.
This crap is why I don't play games anymore. It just isn't any fun when everyone has this kind of contempt for their customers trying to fuck people over asserting they don't own anything and have no rights.
Not everyone. Buy from GOG instead of Steam. They'll sell you DRM-free plain old locally playable games, no network-permission needed to play, no ability for anyone to switch off your game collection later on. They'll work as long as you have a PC or something that can emulate one.
You want that model to succeed? Buy your games there. They don't have as big a collection as Steam, yet, but it's growing fast. If everyone makes sure that business model succeeds, then game companies will be forced to support it, because that's where the buyers are.
On the other hand, if everybody keeps buying lock-in and DRM ala Steam, well... that's what you're gonna get. Put your money towards the world you want to see. Make sure companies selling DRM-free games succeed, and those with needless online activation fail. Game studios need your money to stay in business, but you don't need their games. That means you have all the power, and they have none. Use it wisely.
Yes, it does. Microsoft products sold in Australia have often come with a little flyer that specifies the different protections Australian consumers are entitled to outside their usual EULA.
It had to be more than just some stupid things. Bans like than only come from abusive messages or serious threats. So as a TF2 player, I'm glad you and your little shit of a nephew got banned.
You let him play on your account, therefore you took responsibility for his actions. Don't let other people use your account, that's reckless and stupid.
I like the way Valve had argued that they weren't doing business in Australia and as such didn't need to comply because all they did was provide an online portal.
An online portal that accepts Australian dollars.
An online portal that will restrict titles for Australia by geolocation.
An online portal that WILL SEND YOU A CUSTOM VERSION OF A GAME FOR AUSTRALIA to meet Australian content requirements (looking at you Left4Dead 2) that was only released in Australia initially.
You can't argue that you're not doing business in Australia while at the same time creating (not even releasing but actually creating) specific content to comply directly with local requirements.
No, he's said that changing a major characteristic of the game after the fact to make it necessary to buy more stuff to continue playing changes the game to the point that one would no longer wish to have purchased it. Funny that you were unable to understand that.
Democracy is a sheep and two wolves deciding what to have for lunch. Freedom is a well armed sheep contesting the issue