Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community - View Single Post - I have a question about a store/company taking away a product you bought.

Undercover_Man · 11-24-2004, 02:10 PM

OK. My question is about Steam. IF they wanted to they have the ability to shut its doors or turn authentication off at the flip of a switch leaving HL2 (and any other games that may use Steam at the time) non-playable. You bought the game(s) legally yet they have the power to take that ownership away. It's almost like you didn't even pay for the game(s) in the first place. I'm wondering how they can legally do that. They don't say "rent HL2". They say BUY HL2.

Now that I think of it. Microsoft and Norton have software authentication too. But they're HUGE multi-million (-billion for Microsoft?) companies and I know if they decided to turn off their authentication rendering their software unauthenticationable (I love making up words) then they would most likely be sued by MANY companies and ppl.

But I don't think their reasons for their authentication was primarily to prevent piracy. And their software was meant for companies too. And they have corporate versions that don't even NEED authentication which makes me think that their authentication wasn't meant to stop piracy cause it's only a matter of time before one of their corporate versions gets leaked to the pirates.

Steam's games aren't for the corporate world which would make their software different than Microsofts and Nortons software. Their authentication (and the Steam service itself) unlike, Microsoft and Norton, have created some major problems with its end-users.

I was just wondering how Steam, or ANY company/store, can have the ability to take away something that you have purchased. That's essentially what they would be doing if they went out of business or "flipped the switch" so no one can authenticate their game(s). Doesn't that defeat the whole meaning of purchasing something? They still have control over what you purchased.

That's what I'm wondering about. How can they have so much power over something that you already bought? They can ban your account whenever they want rendering your product useless. They can go out of business rendering your product useless. They can turn off authentication for whatever reason rendering your product useless. They might have server problems rendering your product useless. Someone might even hack into their system which could screw the whole system up possibly rendering your product useless.

How is Steam protecting themselves from being sued or getting into other legal problems? How can ANY company/store have this kind of power over something you bought. Over something your purchased lkegally with your own money? Don't limit your response to Steam. These questions aply to ANY company/store.

- Undercover_Man

P.S.: No this is not meant to be a flame. I am just curious about the legalities of the amount of power that Steam and any other company/store can have over a product that you purchase

11-24-2004, 02:10 PM	#14 (permalink)
Undercover_Man Insane	OK. My question is about Steam. IF they wanted to they have the ability to shut its doors or turn authentication off at the flip of a switch leaving HL2 (and any other games that may use Steam at the time) non-playable. You bought the game(s) legally yet they have the power to take that ownership away. It's almost like you didn't even pay for the game(s) in the first place. I'm wondering how they can legally do that. They don't say "rent HL2". They say BUY HL2. Now that I think of it. Microsoft and Norton have software authentication too. But they're HUGE multi-million (-billion for Microsoft?) companies and I know if they decided to turn off their authentication rendering their software unauthenticationable (I love making up words) then they would most likely be sued by MANY companies and ppl. But I don't think their reasons for their authentication was primarily to prevent piracy. And their software was meant for companies too. And they have corporate versions that don't even NEED authentication which makes me think that their authentication wasn't meant to stop piracy cause it's only a matter of time before one of their corporate versions gets leaked to the pirates. Steam's games aren't for the corporate world which would make their software different than Microsofts and Nortons software. Their authentication (and the Steam service itself) unlike, Microsoft and Norton, have created some major problems with its end-users. I was just wondering how Steam, or ANY company/store, can have the ability to take away something that you have purchased. That's essentially what they would be doing if they went out of business or "flipped the switch" so no one can authenticate their game(s). Doesn't that defeat the whole meaning of purchasing something? They still have control over what you purchased. That's what I'm wondering about. How can they have so much power over something that you already bought? They can ban your account whenever they want rendering your product useless. They can go out of business rendering your product useless. They can turn off authentication for whatever reason rendering your product useless. They might have server problems rendering your product useless. Someone might even hack into their system which could screw the whole system up possibly rendering your product useless. How is Steam protecting themselves from being sued or getting into other legal problems? How can ANY company/store have this kind of power over something you bought. Over something your purchased lkegally with your own money? Don't limit your response to Steam. These questions aply to ANY company/store. - Undercover_Man P.S.: No this is not meant to be a flame. I am just curious about the legalities of the amount of power that Steam and any other company/store can have over a product that you purchase Last edited by Undercover_Man; 11-24-2004 at 02:14 PM..