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[News Flash] Valve sued by German consumer group

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The Federation of German Consumer Organizations (VZVB) is suing Valve over Steam’s refusal to let users resell their games. According to Carola Elbrecht, the VZVB’s project manager for digital consumer rights, Steam users should be given the same rights as owners of traditional board games – allowed to sell their used copies on at will.

The VZVB’s complaint is that purchased games are tied to a user’s Steam account, with no option to transfer the license to a third-party. The organisation also notes that, for those games that use Steamworks, it makes no difference whether a game was purchased online or as physical media, as either way the game is locked to a Steam account on installation.

The lawsuit follows a cease-and-desist order the company issued to Valve back in September. That action was prompted by not only the resale issue, but also in response to the updated Steam Subscriber Agreement, which prohibited class-action suits against the company.

The consumer group have attempted to sue Valve over game reselling before, but the case was dismissed by the German Federal Court of Justice in 2010. However, back in July, the The Court of Justice of the European Union ruled that the trading of “used” software licenses was legal, and the VZVB are hoping that this lends credence to their case.

Of course, Valve aren’t alone in this practice. No digital distributor offers the option to sell on your used licenses to a third-party. Elbrecht says that, while Valve are the target, the suit is meant to serve as a signal to other distributors that operate the same way.

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Interesting.

reply to diablo1892
Steam only offers trading of in-game items for some games... and not many.

I know some who would definitely wish they could resell or trade said games. Even moreso on the consoles.
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Because, f*ck Sony

reply to diablo1892
It would be cool for that to happen, but I wonder how they would do it? Let users trade games from their libraries, or sell them back to for $5 on $60 games like gamestop does?

I don't see it happening. Aren't some games restricted by the publishers itself that you cannot sell the license you get with it?

I believe so, yes, but thats not gonna stop people from blaming valve/steam.

If so, Valve is LOLing at them 'cause Valve is about to make some monies!

I'd be okay with that, while I would like to be able to trade/sell games I wont play again its not right to blame valve for this all. They only have legal control over their own games even if they made it so theirs could be they couldn't force everyone else to do so. Yet people blame them for it 100%, which I don't think is right.

1 issue with console games and some PC games is that with some PC titles it is account bound. You're not buying a game you're buying a license to set up an account. For example WoW. You're not buying the disc you're buying an account. You can't sell back that account. The content of the game or discs mean little to nothing.

Maybe they'll just be able to sell the account as a whole soon.

reply to diablo1892
I couldn't give two shits if they do or don't allow trading of downloadable games. I have no intention of trading or selling any games.

I imagine the reason most peope would trade or sell a game is because of it being crappy. Who would want it anyway?

reply to diablo1892
I'd just be happy if they had some type of "Buyer's Remorse" system. They log how many hours you put on a game already. Maybe you could return a game with less than 4? 6? 8? hours on it for 60%, 70% of the cost.

reply to Ghastlyone
Bunch of idiots, it doesn't work that way.

reply to diablo1892
Meh... it's a licensing issue, as much as I disagree there isn't a whole lot Valve can do, because that's how PC games go these days.

Message to consumers: buy DRM-Free games you're allowed to re-sell?
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Support Bacteria -- It's the Only Culture Some People Have

Second message to consumer: Just because you used to be able to do something in the past doesn't make it your God-given fundamental right forever and ever in every similar situation.

Things change.

Its ok. This funds Steam/Valve and because of this we get more Steam Sales.

Thats another thing, will this make steam do away with the weekend deals, holiday deals and the "play for free untill bla bla" or maybe think of doing something different?
If this happens then i say thank you germany for ruining steam! Althought its not ruining it but I thought there normal deals were pretty sweet so I think they should'nt do away with them, I say keep it!