Senator Ron Widan (D-AR) sent a letter to the Chairman of the Federal Trade Committee (FTC) Andrew Ferguson urges FTC to request companies to recognize when they are not truly Buy an electronic or video book.
Widan message, Joint freedomThe guidance requires “to ensure that consumers who buy or license digital goods can make enlightened decisions and understand the property rights they receive.”
WYDEN wants to include the direction the time it takes to the license, and what are the conditions that may end or cancel the license, and if the consumer can transfer the license or resell it. The message also calls for information “before and at the point of sale” in a way that can be easily understood. “In the words of the matter simply, before agreeing to any treatment, consumers must understand what they pay and what is guaranteed after the sale,” said Widan.
Often, when you buy digital copies of things such as movies, games, music or books, you do not actually have this thing – just a license to reach it. As a result, you may lose access to games unexpectedly due PlayStation Network blocking Or you are no longer able to download and transfer Kindle books to your computer via USB Amazon change.
Last year, the governor of California Gavin News Law Digital stores have banned words such as “buy” or “buy” unless you reveal that you are only licensed to the content you sell, and shortly after, Valve The steam exit screen has been updated To note that only.
“The shift from material goods to digital goods provides some complex legal questions,” said Widin in the letter. “One thing is clear, however: Consumers deserve transparency about their ownership rights in digital goods. FTC guidelines on this issue will help ensure that digital commodities sellers are aware of best practices and that American consumers can make enlightened purchase decisions.”
We contacted FTC to comment.
