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0 pointscwkoss3y ago0 comments

Alternately (or additionally), I'd love for regulatory prohibition of implied ownership of these sorts of items.

Ex. if access is revokable, it's illegal to use the word "Buy" alone - have to use "Rent" or "License" or "Buy License" or something that doesn't imply ownership (because ownership is not being offered)

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navane3y ago

Its funny how Buy is actually Rent, like how Steal is actually Copy.

madeofpalk3y ago

I don't feel like this is a meaningful change.

If steam changed all the "Buy" to "Rent" on it's website, nothing would actually change.

bruce5113y ago

I think it would change, but Rent is also not the right word.

I'm familiar with Rent and I intuit what it means. I have access to an asset for a limited time, and then I can choose to continue renting it, or not. The decision is in my hands.

License might be a better word. Because what they're selling is a "one time payment for use of this asset for an undetermined amount of time" - that's not "buy" but it's also not "rent".

When my license ends it's likely I can't get another. Certainly its not my decision to make.

The period of the license us unknown - till you block my account, till you go under, till you decide this service is no longer available, till _your_ license-to-license expires, and so on.

So yeah, I don't think it's Rent.

Dylan168073y ago

> then I can choose to continue renting it, or not. The decision is in my hands.

That is not implied by the term rent. Very often rentals are for a fixed amount of time. Especially for video game rentals, back when they were common.

I think rent implies you have limited control better than license does.

paulryanrogers3y ago

Customers would be informed. Many would leave for GOG.com

madeofpalk3y ago

I do not think customer behaviour would change that much.

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navane3y ago

Its funny how Buy is actually Rent, like how Steal is actually Copy.

madeofpalk3y ago

I don't feel like this is a meaningful change.

If steam changed all the "Buy" to "Rent" on it's website, nothing would actually change.

bruce5113y ago

I think it would change, but Rent is also not the right word.

I'm familiar with Rent and I intuit what it means. I have access to an asset for a limited time, and then I can choose to continue renting it, or not. The decision is in my hands.

License might be a better word. Because what they're selling is a "one time payment for use of this asset for an undetermined amount of time" - that's not "buy" but it's also not "rent".

When my license ends it's likely I can't get another. Certainly its not my decision to make.

The period of the license us unknown - till you block my account, till you go under, till you decide this service is no longer available, till _your_ license-to-license expires, and so on.

So yeah, I don't think it's Rent.

Dylan168073y ago

> then I can choose to continue renting it, or not. The decision is in my hands.

That is not implied by the term rent. Very often rentals are for a fixed amount of time. Especially for video game rentals, back when they were common.

I think rent implies you have limited control better than license does.

paulryanrogers3y ago

Customers would be informed. Many would leave for GOG.com

madeofpalk3y ago

I do not think customer behaviour would change that much.

2 more replies

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse