Sony, Ubisoft scandals lead to California ban on deceptive digital goods sales

Original Article ↗ Hacker News Discussion ↗

Stop Killing Games (SKG) and related activism

  • SKG campaigners see the California law as a big shift in the “Overton window” on digital ownership, making stronger reforms easier to argue for.
  • They credit rising attention, scandals like Ubisoft’s The Crew shutdown, and a large EU petition as pressure that’s already pushing companies (e.g., bringing back older games, promising offline modes).
  • SKG frames the core issue as clawing back ownership rights for all digital tech, not just games.

What the California law appears to do

  • Law targets deceptive use of terms like “buy” or “purchase” for digital goods where access can be revoked.
  • One reading: “buy” is forbidden unless the seller gets a separate, explicit acknowledgment that it’s a revocable license.
  • Another reading: this risks becoming a trivial checkbox plus EULA link, which most users will ignore.

UI wording and practical effects

  • Many expect industry to switch to terms like “Get”, “Unlock”, “Get access”, “Add to cart” or “Checkout”.
  • Some argue these still imply real ownership; others think even a wording shift is a win because it makes the non‑ownership clearer and may deter some purchases.

Ownership vs licensing

  • Strong sentiment that calling revocable, DRM‑tied access “buying” is inherently fraudulent.
  • Debate over whether buying should imply perpetual access, resale rights, and offline usability.
  • Some insist “you bought a license” is accurate; others say platforms almost never present it that way at point of sale.

Impact on developers and business models

  • One side: requirements are mainly a “tech problem” solvable via offline modes, self‑hostable servers, or alternative tooling; mostly large companies are affected.
  • Critics: this underplays licensing constraints (e.g., third‑party libraries, licensed music) and could burden smaller studios or force certain tech stacks out.

Parallels to cookie banners and Prop 65

  • Skeptics fear this will become another perfunctory consent ritual—like cookie popups or ubiquitous cancer warnings—without real behavior change.
  • Supporters counter that even a more honest label (“Get access”) is a meaningful incremental step.

DRM, offline access, and platforms

  • Law’s exception for permanent, offline‑usable downloads is praised; GOG‑style DRM‑free models are seen as compliant.
  • Experiences differ between platforms and formats (Steam vs GOG, DRM‑free Kindle titles), raising questions about how they’ll adapt.