Steam’s updated user agreement bans class action suits

Steam rolled out a new user agreement and privacy policy on August the 1st. The new user agreement updated its Steam Subscriber Agreement (SSA) to forbid users from filing class action lawsuits. Valve said:

“We considered this change very carefully, It’s clear to us that in some situations, class actions have real benefits to customers. In far too many cases however, class actions don’t provide any real benefit to users and instead impose unnecessary expense and delay, and are often designed to benefit the class action lawyers.”

Valve says it isn’t looking to dodge legal disputes, just resolve them in a way that is more appropriate for all parties.Class actions are often appealing because people can’t afford to file and pursue individual claims against large corporations. However, Valve pledges to cover the cost of resolving complaints in this new process.

Valve’s new arbitration process covers costs up to $10,000 irrelevant of the outcome, i.e. even if Valve win.

Despite the fact Valve have tried to be reasonable, the fact still remains that they have moulded their user agreement in a way that doesn’t allow its customers to challenge them. Disputes will have to be resolved at Valve’s discression. Add to that the fact Valve debuted the new user agreement less than a month after the Steam Sale ended – controversial because rejecting the new agreement would see you forfeit your entire newly bought games library. Many feel had Valve introduced this before the Steam Sale, sales figures would of probably been lower as a result.

This latest move is another reminded that you never truly own digital content, especially when its locked into the DRM-laiden Steam application.

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