A U.S. representative wants to guarantee players ownership of their digital games
, by Thibaut
Ensuring the preservation of digital games and buyers’ access to them has become a real struggle for gamers. So much so that the issue is now being addressed by various politicians around the world. Following the « Stop Killing Games » campaign in Europe, the U.S. could even go one step ahead.
Ritchie Torres, who has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2020, has announced his intention to introduce a bill titled the « Power To The Players Act ». This legislation would require the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) to establish rules guaranteeing consumer protection following the purchase of a video game.
Among the protections outlined in the bill is the right to actually own a purchased digital game, rather than merely receiving a license that can be revoked at the publisher’s discretion. Additionally, Torres aims to require game companies to guarantee access to their games even if servers were to shut down (via an offline mode). Finally, users would be able to transfer or sell their digital copies.
« When you buy a game, you should own it. Consumers must have the right to own, play, and transfer the games they buy. A game that can be taken off the market as soon as a company goes out of business isn’t a purchase. It’s a rental disguised as a sale. Families in the Bronx and across the country save up to buy these games, and they deserve better than a license that can disappear at any moment. The « Power To The Players Act » guarantees consumers ownership of what they buy and allows them to continue playing long after a company has chosen to discontinue it. »
It remains to be seen whether this bill will pass.
Source: ritchietorres.house.gov