By Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | AZ Mirror
A bill that would make companies that sell digital downloads or streams of movies and video games disclose to customers that they’re not purchasing permanent copies of that media got unanimous support Monday in the Arizona House of Representatives.
Rep. Nick Kupper, R-Surprise, thinks Arizona should follow California and mandate that companies disclose when consumers are obtaining a revocable license on digital goods as opposed to full ownership.
Kupper’s House Bill 2010 would make it illegal for a seller of a digital good to advertise that good using the terms “buy” or “purchase” if they do not inform consumers of restrictions on that purchase. Those restrictions include the possibility that the product could be altered or access to it could be revoked in the future.
Large companies like Amazon and Sony have come under fire in recent years after consumers found that TV shows, movies and video games they purchased were removed from their digital libraries. Many consumers are unaware that when they “buy” a movie or TV show online they are really only purchasing a license agreement. That means consumers don’t really own much of the content they purchase.
