Case Against Valve In Germany May Lead To Used Game Sales on Steam

As CinemaBlend reports, a consumer rights group is trying to push this matter into court right now. Unfortunately a date of the trial is not fixed, we hope it will take place this year. Until then, it is not realistic that Valve will change their policy. But our chance to win the process is very good and that will be really an improvement for consumers: then they can sell their games to others.

Valve responded to the issue: We are aware of the press release about the lawsuit filed by the VZBV, but we have not yet seen the actual complaint. That said, we understand the complaint is somehow regarding the transferability of Steam accounts, despite the fact that this issue has already been ruled upon favorably to Valve in a prior case between Valve and the VZBV by the German supreme court. For now, we are continuing to extend the Steam services to gamers in Germany and around the world.

Whereas what Valve and Steam have done is to be appreciated, I sincerely hope that the court rules in favor of allowing resale of digital content. We should be able to own what we buy, and we cant own what we buy until we have the option of selling it on.

GamingBolt

SOURCE

Resale of digital content? Oh God, I hope so.

That would be dificult to organize.

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

Even if they succeed in Germany (very small chance), it won´t be applied worldwide.

Besides, didn´t German court dismiss before other similar cases from the same activist group ? I have heard that this is not their 1st attempt in fabricating a case.

lolgermany loleuropeRR360DD

[QUOTE="RR360DD"]lolgermany loleuropeheeweesRus

I support consumer rights.

Games should be sellable used, even digital.

Valve responded to it. They are one of the few companies that actually post responses to things like this.

If this law did come to pass it's likely stream and other DD sellers would just stop selling games in Germany.

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

jhonMalcovich

No they arent.

Right now you can put "steam cards" on sale in the community store. Someone else can pay your price and it gets transfered from your account to theirs and money gets added to your account.

In diablo 3 you can put gear drops you get in the game into an auction house for sale for in game gold or real money. Item leaves your inventory, goes into the buyers, money gets transfered to you.

A game on steam is the exact same thing. It just gets removed from your library as a game you own and added to the buyers account.

Period.

A used digital game makes no sense. The idea of it being sued is that someone already used it and wore it down passed the brand new original pristine condition.

A Digital game gets no wear and tear

Imagine the profit that could be made after the massive summer and winter sales?

I don't know if Valve would want to handle someone taking a large piece of their cake

Licenses and use-rights are bought and sold on open markets all the time.

You're not buying the game, you're buying a right to play the game.

[QUOTE="jhonMalcovich"]

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

Gargus

No they arent.

Right now you can put "steam cards" on sale in the community store. Someone else can pay your price and it gets transfered from your account to theirs and money gets added to your account.

In diablo 3 you can put gear drops you get in the game into an auction house for sale for in game gold or real money. Item leaves your inventory, goes into the buyers, money gets transfered to you.

A game on steam is the exact same thing. It just gets removed from your library as a game you own and added to the buyers account.

Period.

[QUOTE="jhonMalcovich"]

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

 

Gargus

No they arent.

Right now you can put "steam cards" on sale in the community store. Someone else can pay your price and it gets transfered from your account to theirs and money gets added to your account.

In diablo 3 you can put gear drops you get in the game into an auction house for sale for in game gold or real money. Item leaves your inventory, goes into the buyers, money gets transfered to you.

A game on steam is the exact same thing. It just gets removed from your library as a game you own and added to the buyers account.

Period.

Digital reselling would destroy PC Software industry faster than global worldwide piracy. it would be super great for the consumer, but it would be disastrous for publishers and developers to the point they would completely cease making digital content. Or they would just price it 5 times as expensive.

I support selling used at retail, but used digital is kind of ridiculous. I don't sell songs from my itunes library that I don't listen to anymore, and I wouldn't sell a game digitially. 

lolgermany loleuropeRR360DD

:lol: Americans.

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

Even if they succeed in Germany (very small chance), it won´t be applied worldwide.

Besides, didn´t German court dismiss before other similar cases from the same activist group ? I have heard that this is not their 1st attempt in fabricating a case.

jhonMalcovich

Why Germany!!!

[QUOTE="jhonMalcovich"]

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

Even if they succeed in Germany (very small chance), it won´t be applied worldwide.

Besides, didn´t German court dismiss before other similar cases from the same activist group ? I have heard that this is not their 1st attempt in fabricating a case.

charizard1605

Digital reselling would destroy PC Software industry faster than global worldwide piracy. it would be super great for the consumer, but it would be disastrous for publishers and developers to the point they would completely cease making digital content. Or they would just price it 5 times as expensive.

Europe sucks. 

XboxStache

I think the only real problem with selling digital is that digital does not degrade and if it doesn't degrade, the game can be infinitely shared. As such its not used really. I don't see it as a big problem really with not being able to trade in digital. I just personally expect far more competitive prices because of this reality.

I think the only real problem with selling digital is that digital does not degrade and if it doesn't degrade, the game can be infinitely shared. As such its not used really. I don't see it as a big problem really with not being able to trade in digital. I just personally expect far more competitive prices because of this reality.

ActicEdge

You never buy digital content, you just buy license/permission to download and use digital content, hence you can´t resell it. As I said, you don´t own files, you own a license of digital content.

If you were a doctor, could you resell your doctor license to someone else ? No, you coudn´t. 

[QUOTE="XboxStache"]

Europe sucks. 

parkurtommo

Licenses and use-rights are bought and sold on open markets all the time.

You're not buying the game, you're buying a right to play the game.

LazySloth718

[QUOTE="ActicEdge"]

I think the only real problem with selling digital is that digital does not degrade and if it doesn't degrade, the game can be infinitely shared. As such its not used really. I don't see it as a big problem really with not being able to trade in digital. I just personally expect far more competitive prices because of this reality.

jhonMalcovich

You never buy digital content, you just buy license/permission to download and use digital content, hence you can´t resell it. As I said, you don´t own files, you own a license of digital content.

If you were a doctor, could you resell your doctor license to someone else ? No, you coudn´t. 

Sure but isn't that the exact same logic that is applied to console games? And does that logic hold up anywhere?

Germany > Murrica. Smarter people, better technology, and better human rights.

I'd love to get rid of some games on my steam account.

Well I don't want to see PC gaming dead.

But I hate its current state, "sign it to this program before you can play" WHY?

"Oh this game isn't available on Steam, you must buy it at Origin" WHY?

Why do you fragment the market?

If not for DRM, the console industry wouldn't even be viable right now, who the hell wants to play everything on a console? Not me, but as long as DRM gets more and more invasive, a console will be the best option to get away from PC developer bullschit.

The fact that Steam don't let people resell their games automatically puts that platform at a disadvantage.

PC devs are literally cutting their own throats to try to combat piracy.

[QUOTE="LazySloth718"]

Licenses and use-rights are bought and sold on open markets all the time.

You're not buying the game, you're buying a right to play the game.

blue_hazy_basic

Their gaming industry would be taken over by consoles.

[QUOTE="LazySloth718"]

Licenses and use-rights are bought and sold on open markets all the time.

You're not buying the game, you're buying a right to play the game.

blue_hazy_basic

If I were Valve, I woud just tell them "Ok. You want to resell your Steam games then make your own distribution platform and resell them from there as you want".

Asking Steam to provide tools to resell their games is like if someone would ask a shop owner to install a shop inside his. It doesn´t make sense.

[QUOTE="blue_hazy_basic"][QUOTE="LazySloth718"]

Licenses and use-rights are bought and sold on open markets all the time.

You're not buying the game, you're buying a right to play the game.

jhonMalcovich

If I were Valve, I woud just tell them "Ok. You want to resell your Steam games then make your own distribution platform and resell them from there as you want".

Asking Steam to resell their game is like if someone would ask a shop owner to install a shop inside his. It doesn´t make sense.

Steam is not primarily a "store" it is primarily a DRM that demands authentication to use a software product.

Hence without Steam you cannot even run that product.

The legal question here: should a company have the right to dictate what the value of its product is at all times?

My instinct is no, otherwise what good is a free market?  Kinda depends on German jurisprudence but Steam has very simple counterargument: market forces still influence goods irrespective of whether a secondary market exists or not.  Steam's method of distribution simply make it possible for them to get to the bottom first before other retailers.

Is there a timeframe on the decision?

Germany making Europe a mess the last 5 years or so ... Why not mess up with video gaming and digital shopping as well ?!! They are used to do such things.AzatiS

Germany > Murrica. Smarter people, better technology, and better human rights.

percech

Anyways this is not a place to discuss politics people.

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

 

jhonMalcovich

[QUOTE="jhonMalcovich"]

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

 

PannicAtack

Don't bother with jhonmalcovich, he's pretty much the "village idiot" of SW.

[QUOTE="AzatiS"]Germany making Europe a mess the last 5 years or so ... Why not mess up with video gaming and digital shopping as well ?!! They are used to do such things.percech

What a bunch of greedy scumbags. Vavle has given us so much what with all of those crazy sales and stuff. Not to mention the badass games and service they provide us. Now people want to force them to give us MORE. This is why the human race deserves to be eradicated. We're nothin but selfish, violent, evil mother f*ckers. May god smite us down and pave the way for a more deserving species.

[QUOTE="LazySloth718"]

Licenses and use-rights are bought and sold on open markets all the time.

You're not buying the game, you're buying a right to play the game.

blue_hazy_basic

[QUOTE="jhonMalcovich"]

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

 

PannicAtack

GreenManGaming´s model doesn´t support trading or reselling between users, but you can trade in your games to Greenmangaming for the store credit.

Not all games on Greenmnagamign support this feature, but only soem of them. As I understand they make a special deal with the developers, so the developer gets a cut from this kind of operations. 

[QUOTE="PannicAtack"]

[QUOTE="jhonMalcovich"]

It won´t lead to anything. Used sales are imposible in digital format. Period.

 

Ballroompirate

Don't bother with jhonmalcovich, he's pretty much the "village idiot" of SW.

moron

Germany > Murrica. Smarter people, better technology, and better human rights.

percech