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Arthur T Knackerbracket has processed the following story:
Ubisoft's response to a lawsuit over a recently shut-down online game argues that paying customers never truly owned the title. The case has sparked renewed calls for legislation to protect players when games reach end-of-life status.
Two California plaintiffs filed suit against Ubisoft last year after the company shut down servers for The Crew, citing licensing restrictions. Publishers often delist driving games like The Crew and Forza Horizon when licensing agreements with car manufacturers expire.
Users typically retain access to games they purchased prior to delisting, and physical discs often continue to function. However, The Crew is an online-only title, and once Ubisoft deactivated its servers, launching the game merely starts a restricted demo version. Additionally, Ubisoft removed the game from customers' Ubisoft Connect libraries, offering refunds only to those who purchased it recently.
The California plaintiffs, who bought physical copies of the 2014 title years ago, allege that Ubisoft misled customers. They also point to other games that received offline modes when they reached end-of-life as a fairer precedent.
In response, Ubisoft argued that The Crew's packaging clearly states that purchase only grants a temporary license, and that the statute of limitations for the claim has passed. Still, the company has pledged to introduce offline modes for The Crew 2 and The Crew Motorfest.
The plaintiffs then pivoted to argue that The Crew's in-game currency qualifies as a gift certificate under California law, which prohibits expiration. They also pointed to the game's packaging, which states that activation codes remain valid until 2099, implying that the game should remain downloadable until then. Additionally, the plaintiffs contended that the statute of limitations only began in 2023, when Ubisoft announced its plans to shut down the servers.
In response to Ubisoft's decision, a petition urged the Canadian government to introduce protections for online games. The petitioners are calling for legislation that would require game companies to remove server dependencies and override End User License Agreements. The Stop Killing Games Initiative is directing similar demands at multiple governments.
As digital purchases and live-service games become more prevalent, the issue remains far from resolved. Ubisoft, while promoting its subscription service, has previously suggested that consumers should get used to not owning their games.
Valve has acknowledged the legal pressure by updating Steam's language to clarify that customers are not purchasing permanent ownership of games, in accordance with California law. In contrast, GOG mocked Valve's notice by emphasizing its policy of offering DRM-free offline installers for all titles.
(Score: 5, Interesting) by looorg on Sunday April 13, @04:07PM (4 children)
If I don't own the game when I pay for it do I break copyright when I crack the protection or pirate it? After all I never owned the product anyway. So I'm getting a nothing product. For nothing. No foul no harm to anyone.
Asking for a friend, theoretically and all that .. *cough*cough*
(Score: 2) by Tork on Sunday April 13, @04:29PM
🏳️🌈 Proud Ally 🏳️🌈
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday April 13, @06:01PM
Could you imagine a place where the laws were enforced in the public's favor?
A place where the law doesn't maximally take from you?
Yeah... me neither.
While you don't "own" it you "license" it. If you don't own a license(own wha???), you can't use it at all, download crack or otherwise. Sorry, things are legislated three or four ways (trademark violations, patent violations, publicity rights violations, sales taxes, use taxes, consumption taxes,) in favor of corporations.
Are you able to enter into a license status by means of a credit card purchase? Is the store an authorized, authoritative intermediary? (What if it came from eBay or Amazon? Used?)
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Monday April 14, @06:46PM
This is why I buy games on GOG. My main game collection is on Steam, but games I really care about; I also buy on GOG. Assuming the game makes it to GOG. I know they care about their customers and/or making an extra sale.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 2) by darkfeline on Monday April 14, @11:24PM
Yes, you were provided a license to use it, copying it without a valid license is copyright infringement. Bypassing protections violates various hacking laws.
Don't like it, blame the legislators and indirectly yourself (and various lobbyists I suppose).
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