Ubisoft and Sony have recently been called out by California lawmaker Jacqui Irwin for engaging in consumer harms related to digital media purchases. Irwin highlighted instances where licenses for video games and TV shows were revoked, leading to backlash from consumers. The US government has been aware of this issue since 2016, but it has taken until now for state lawmakers to take action.
Irwin introduced AB 2426, a bill aimed at providing consumer protections for digital media purchases. This bill will address false and deceptive advertising practices by sellers who fail to disclose the nature of the transactions, such as access to content versus ownership of a copy. The bill has been praised by University of Michigan law professor Aaron Perzanowski for its efforts to protect consumers’ rights in the digital marketplace.
The sale of digital media has become increasingly common, leading to a greater need for regulations to protect consumers from losing access to their purchases. AB 2426 aims to establish clear guidelines for digital media sales and ensure that sellers cannot mislead consumers about their ownership rights. This legislation is viewed as a crucial step towards securing consumers’ digital rights and holding companies like Ubisoft and Sony accountable for their actions in the online marketplace.
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