So the EU just ruled that it's legal to re-sell digital versions of games.

[Irridium]

From the Court of Justice of the European Union: "An author of software cannot oppose the resale of his 'used' licences allowing the use of his programs downloaded from the internet."

Basically it means that if you are in the EU, it's perfectly legal to re-sell any game you bought on Steam, Origin, or any other digital store. Regardless of what any EULA says. Of course it remains to be seen if EA, Valve, and the other digital stores will make changes to how their services work to allow this, since if you buy something using Steam or Origin, the game's tied to one account.

There is one condition, however. If you resell a license to a game you have to make your copy "unusable at the time of resale".

"If he continued to use it," the Court explained, "he would infringe the copyright holder's exclusive right of reproduction of his computer program. In contrast to the exclusive right of distribution, the exclusive right of reproduction is not exhausted by the first sale."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2012-07-03-eu-rules-publishers-cannot-stop-you-reselling-your-downloaded-games

I for one love it, and hope it spreads to the US. What are your thoughts on the matter?

 

[Kahunaburger]

Same. Great news. (But not great news for EA, what with that "sell games at absurd prices" digital sales model.)

 

[Vegosiux]

Well last I heard Valve was looking into the option to make games sellable through Steam, and I don't see EA complying with that. Let's see how the digital distributors react for real, though. Let's celebrate a little victory nontheless, my consumer brothers. And sisters.

However.

I am now taking bets. How many armchair lawyers will pop up in this thread, whining about how EU courts have no idea what they're talking about and how we should just bend over because those poor publishers have to feed their children too?

 

[Fappy]

I can see it now. Ebay-like auctions on Steam for digital licenses with Valve taking a cut. As long as you can sell directly to people without their interference I wouldn't be opposed to this.

 

[Esotera]

This is awesome. Does it extend to other digital media such as images, video, and music? If so, this is probably the most sensible decision on copyright in a very long time (excluding the recent Oracle vs. Google lawsuit).

 

[everythingbeeps]

Meh. The fact that it's legal doesn't obligate companies to facilitate it or even make it possible. Expect companies to work on methods to make it impossible to resell digital games, along the lines of "if you can figure out how to resell it, go right ahead."

 

[General Twinkletoes]

Hope it spreads to australia.
But, I doubt any company will actually integrate it into whatever system they have. We're probably not going to see it on steam or origin ever

 

[Erttheking]

So in other words you can have ditgital used games? PFT HA! Oh this is gonna be fun to watch.

 

[Aeshi]

This law seems like it'd be way too hard to enforce, what's to stop people from just selling their games and then 'forgetting' to delete/lock their copies?

 

[Irridium]

This law seems like it'd be way too hard to enforce, what's to stop people from just selling their games and then 'forgetting' to delete/lock their copies?

Steam, Origin, and others could just revoke your access to the games when you re-sell them. Though this relies on them embracing this and setting up systems that allow it.

 

[The Artificially Prolonged]

Score one for the consumers, well done EU courts. Now we need to figure out how the hell we can actually implement re-sales of digital copies. I know Valve has been rumoured to toying with the idea but will digital distributors go along with this or will they drag their heels and fight this decision or worse still find a loophole to side step the ruling. Nonetheless at least we seem to have gotten some of our consumer rights back.

 

[skywolfblue]

Oh I bet EA and Activision are going to be pretty hopping mad about that.

Extremely good news for Europe! Wish the courts would decide the same thing over here in the US.

 

[veloper]

How does the buyer know I'm sending him the original and not just making a copy for him?

Is there even an original? I'm thinking no.

This is even dumber than regular used sales, where you may atleast sometimes get the manual and the case with the game.

Who here will pay for a "used" digital copy, that they can also torrent for free?

 

[LiquidGrape]

Not sure this is good news at all.

For one, it might increase game prices in affected regions. Furthermore, it could encourage publishers to introduce time limits in their EULA's with paid subscriptions for their services.

No, I wouldn't break out the party hats just yet.

 

[Triforceformer]

How does the buyer know I'm sending him the original and not just making a copy for him?

Is there even an original? I'm thinking no.

This is even dumber than regular used sales, where you may atleast sometimes get the manual and the case with the game.

Who here will pay for a "used" digital copy, that they can also torrent for free?

A good person who doesn't pirate games and would rather not spend a full $60 on a AAA game that isn't likely to go on sale would.

 

[Aeshi]

How does the buyer know I'm sending him the original and not just making a copy for him?

Is there even an original? I'm thinking no.

This is even dumber than regular used sales, where you may atleast sometimes get the manual and the case with the game.

Who here will pay for a "used" digital copy, that they can also torrent for free?

You said it better than I could, save for that last line prehaps.

 

[BernardoOne]

How does the buyer know I'm sending him the original and not just making a copy for him?

Is there even an original? I'm thinking no.

This is even dumber than regular used sales, where you may atleast sometimes get the manual and the case with the game.

Who here will pay for a "used" digital copy, that they can also torrent for free?

You forfeit your license and give it to someone. Alas, you cannot use the game after you sell it.