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Steam
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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[edit | edit source]
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.
Lawsuit Case 2:21-cv-00563-JNW Document 391 Filed 11/26/24[edit | edit source]
This matter comes before the Court on Plaintiff Wolfire Games, LLC, Dark
Catt Studios Holdings, Inc., and Dark Catt Studio Interactive LLC’s (together,
“Plaintiffs”) motion for class certification and the appointment of class counsel, Dkt.
No. 2561 , and Defendant Valve Corporation’s motion to exclude expert testimony,
Dkt. No. 321 2 . The Court has considered the papers submitted in support of and
opposition to the motions, and being otherwise fully informed, finds oral argument
Video games are big business. Early in their history, PC games were
distributed on physical media and purchased at brick-and-mortar retail locations,
but now they’re distributed digitally. Valve, through its Steam Store and Steam
platform (collectively, “Steam”), is the largest distributor in the world, offering over
50,000 titles for sale and play. See, e.g., Dkt. No. 127 ¶ 52. Valve started out
developing its own games, id. ¶¶ 46–54, but it is no longer primarily a developer. Id.
It leaves this task to others, ranging from small independent developers to large-
scale developers (“AAA” studios) like Electronic Arts and Epic Games. Id. ¶¶ 24,
136, 298, 355, 358. Valve then sells and distributes those games to end users
through its Steam platform and provides other game-related services. Id. ¶¶ 2, 3.
From the end-users’ perspective, the process works like this: A gamer creates
a Steam account and buys a video game through the Steam Store.4 Id. ¶¶ 11, 16, 40,
49. The gamer then downloads the game, uses Steam to launch it on their computer,
You can Read The Document Here
Steam Subscriber Agreement[edit | edit source]
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).
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.
Purchases are referred to as content and services that Users do not have control of which could potentially mislead users.
