Steam

Steam is a gaming platform owned by Valve Corporation where users can buy games and download them to a computer. Users launch their games through the Steam program and can also stream their games to a mobile device with the Steam app.

Purchasing Games

Through the Steam program or the Steam website and mobile app, users can buy games to add to their library. Steam uses a button that says "purchase" when you buy a game, however according to their subscriber agreement you do not truly own these games. Steam has control of the games you own and can also force you to update or can remove your games at any time. Steam uses the word purchase incorrectly as you are not gaining ownership when you press the purchase button.

Steam Subscriber Agreement

Below is the Steam subscriber agreement that users agree to when obtaining games on Steam.

As a Subscriber you may obtain access to certain services, software and content available to Subscribers or purchase certain Hardware (as defined below) on Steam. The Steam client software and any other software, content, and updates you download or access via Steam, including but not limited to Valve or third-party video games and in-game content, software associated with Hardware and any virtual items you trade, sell or purchase in a Steam Subscription Marketplace are referred to in this Agreement as "Content and Services;" the rights to access and/or use any Content and Services accessible through Steam are referred to in this Agreement as "Subscriptions."

Each Subscription allows you to access particular Content and Services. Some Subscriptions may impose additional terms specific to that Subscription ("Subscription Terms") (for example, an end user license agreement specific to a particular game, or terms of use specific to a particular product or feature of Steam). Also, additional terms (for example, payment and billing procedures) may be posted on http://www.steampowered.com or within the Steam service ("Rules of Use"). Rules of Use include the Steam Online Conduct Rules http://steampowered.com/index.php?area=online_conduct and the Steam Refund Policy http://store.steampowered.com/steam_refunds. The Subscription Terms, the Rules of Use, and the Valve Privacy Policy (which can be found at http://www.valvesoftware.com/privacy.htm) are binding on you once you indicate your acceptance of them or of this Agreement, or otherwise become bound by them as described in Section 8 (Amendments to this Agreement).

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Steam and your Subscription(s) require the download and installation of Content and Services onto your computer. Valve hereby grants, and you accept, a non-exclusive license and right, to use the Content and Services for your personal, non-commercial use (except where commercial use is expressly allowed herein or in the applicable Subscription Terms). This license ends upon termination of (a) this Agreement or (b) a Subscription that includes the license. The Content and Services are licensed, not sold. Your license confers no title or ownership in the Content and Services. To make use of the Content and Services, you must have a Steam Account and you may be required to be running the Steam client and maintaining a connection to the Internet.

- Steam Subscriber Agreement.

The Steam subscriber agreement excerpt

Steam purchase button

Purchases are referred to as content and services that Users do not have control of which could potentially mislead users.