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Valve removes arbitration requirement from Steam Subscriber Agreement: Difference between revisions
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Add context around the decision to drop the forced arbitration clause |
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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], which is, essentially, [[Steam]]'s [[End-User License Agreement]]. | 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], which 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."[1] | ||
== Implications == | == Implications == | ||
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* Louis Rossmann's video on the news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f81qXxggo8 | * Louis Rossmann's video on the news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f81qXxggo8 | ||
* NACA's arbitration definition: https://www.consumeradvocates.org/for-consumers/arbitration/ | * NACA's arbitration definition: https://www.consumeradvocates.org/for-consumers/arbitration/ | ||
* [1] "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/ | |||
[[Category:Valve Corporation]] | [[Category:Valve Corporation]] | ||
Revision as of 00:12, 17 January 2025
In September 2024, Valve removed both the individual binding arbitration requirements and class-action waiver from the Steam Subscriber Agreement, which is, essentially, Steam's End-User License Agreement. This was done because of a pending 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."[1]
Implications
This restores consumer rights to both court litigation and class-action lawsuits, rather than being bound to forced arbitration, for resolving disputes with Steam.
Sources/Links
- Link to the Steam news article: https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/593110/view/4696781406111167991
- Link to the Steam Subscriber Agreement: https://store.steampowered.com/subscriber_agreement
- Louis Rossmann's video on the news: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1f81qXxggo8
- NACA's arbitration definition: https://www.consumeradvocates.org/for-consumers/arbitration/
- [1] "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/