Californian Technology Solves the Quandary of Purchasing Games Without True Ownership: A Prohibition on the Term Purchase if Deletion in the Future is Feasible.

The governor of California, Gavin Newsom, has signed AB 2426 into law, requiring retailers to clearly state that buyers do not actually own the digital media they purchase. This includes video games, movies, TV shows, ebooks, music, and other digital content. The law will take effect next year, and companies found in violation may face penalties for false advertising.

This legislation prohibits the use of advertising language that implies actual ownership, such as purchasing but not including games that can be downloaded and stored permanently, or clearly stating that it is a license to access content that may expire in the future.

This law addresses the issue of platforms removing digital content, as seen in the case of Ubisoft closing The Crew game and removing it from the library. Service providers must follow similar practices, like Amazon, which clearly states that buyers do not actually own the movies and TV shows they purchase.

Source: IGN

TLDR: California law mandates retailers to disclose that buyers do not own digital media they purchase. Platforms like Ubisoft and Amazon may face consequences for removing digital content.