Valve removes arbitration requirement from Steam Subscriber Agreement: Difference between revisions

In September 2024, [[Valve]] removed both the individual [[Forced Arbitration|binding arbitration]] requirements and class-action waiver from the [https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement Steam Subscriber Agreement].<ref>NACA's arbitration definition: [https://www.consumeradvocates.org/for-consumers/arbitration/ https://www.consumeradvocates.org/for-consumers/arbitration/.] . [https://web.archive.org/web/20250101160116/https://www.consumeradvocates.org/for-consumers/arbitration/ Archived] from the original on 1 January, 2025. Retrieved 17 January, 2025.</ref><ref>https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/593110/view/4696781406111167991. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240927180120/https://store.steampowered.com/oldnews/ Archived] from the original on 27 September, 2024. Retrieved 17 January, 2025.</ref><ref>Steam Subscriber Agreement: https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement. [https://web.archive.org/web/20240928014938/https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement/ Archived] from the original on 28 September, 2024. Retrieved 17 January, 2025.</ref> That agreement is essentially [[Steam]]'s [[End-user license agreement]]. This was done because of a pending [https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.wawd.337957/gov.uscourts.wawd.337957.1.0.pdf class-action lawsuit] wherein "the named Plaintiffs won binding decisions from arbitrators rendering Valve's arbitration provision unenforceable for both lack of notice and because it impermissibly seeks to bar public injunctive relief."<ref>"Steam doesn’t want to pay arbitration fees, tells gamers to sue instead": https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/09/steam-doesnt-want-to-pay-arbitration-fees-tells-gamers-to-sue-instead/. [https://web.archive.org/web/20241217090450/https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2024/09/steam-doesnt-want-to-pay-arbitration-fees-tells-gamers-to-sue-instead/ Archived] from the original on 17 December, 2024. Retrieved 17 January, 2025.</ref><ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f81qXxggo8, Louis Rossmann</ref>

=== Related legislation ===

In response to evolving consumer protection laws, Steam has recently updated its sales terms to enhance transparency for users. Notably, following the enactment of California's AB 2426 law, which mandates that digital storefronts clearly indicate when a user is purchasing a license rather than owning a product outright, Steam has added a notification beneath the 'Continue to Payment' button. This notice informs customers that purchasing a game grants them a license, not full ownership.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steam Changes Sale Terms Due to New Legislation|url=https://zaman.co.at/en/news/steam-changes-sale-terms-due-to-new-legislation/1105377/}}</ref>

Additionally, to comply with the European Union's Omnibus Directive, Steam now displays the lowest price a game has been offered at in the past 30 days to EU users. This measure aims to prevent misleading discount practices, ensuring that consumers are aware of a product's recent pricing history.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Steam starts showing EU citizens a game's lowest price from the last 30 days to comply with new law|url=https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/steam-starts-showing-eu-citizens-a-games-lowest-price-from-the-last-30-days-to-comply-with-new-law}}</ref>