Thursday, 3 April 2025
25.7 C
Singapore
28.2 C
Thailand
20.8 C
Indonesia
26.9 C
Philippines

New California law to clarify digital media ownership for consumers

Starting in 2025, California law will force digital companies to clearly state when consumers are buying a license, not ownership, for digital content.

In a significant move for digital media consumers, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a new law, AB 2426, requiring companies to be more transparent about what they own when purchasing digital content. Starting in 2025, digital marketplaces must clarify to customers that they are not buying the media but merely a license to access it. This law will not apply to permanent offline downloads but will cover common purchases such as video games, music, movies, TV shows, and ebooks from online stores.

What the law means for you

If youโ€™re like many consumers, you’ve probably thought you “owned” the digital content you purchased. However, this new law aims to clarify that, in most cases, you only own a license to access it rather than the media itself. From 2025, terms like “buy” or “purchase” may disappear from these digital platforms unless you gain permanent offline access. Instead, youโ€™ll likely see clearer language explaining that you are paying for limited access, not ownership.

This new regulation is part of a wider effort to combat misleading advertising in California. Companies that fail to comply with this law could face fines for false advertising. This development is a response to growing concerns that consumers need to be fully informed about the nature of their digital media purchases.

Loss of access remains an issue

While this law adds transparency, it doesnโ€™t solve the underlying issue of digital ownership and preservation. Take Ubisoft, for example. The company recently deleted The Crew from playersโ€™ libraries after shutting down the gameโ€™s servers, leaving many users unable to access a game they felt they had purchased. Unfortunately, the new law wonโ€™t stop cases like this from happening, as the issue’s root lies in the temporary nature of many digital licenses.

Although this law provides clarity, it doesnโ€™t change the fact that true ownership is often rare in the world of digital media. Once a company decides to remove content from its platform or shut down its servers, users may lose access permanently despite having paid for it. This can be a frustrating experience for many, and the new law is designed to ensure you know exactly what youโ€™re paying for upfront.

Governor Newsomโ€™s legislative focus

This isnโ€™t the only significant law Governor Newsom has passed recently. Just yesterday, he signed the state’s “click to cancel” bill, which aims to make it easier for consumers to cancel online subscriptions. In addition, last week, Newsom signed two bills designed to protect actors, both living and deceased, from having their likenesses used by artificial intelligence without permission. These moves reflect the governor’s active legislative agenda to protect consumer rights and regulate new technologies.

While AB 2426 won’t prevent companies from pulling content you thought you owned, it will ensure youโ€™re no longer misled about what your digital purchases mean. The law will force platforms to be upfront about your rights so you can make more informed choices about your digital purchases.

Hot this week

Canon unveils new cameras and lens to support content creators’ video needs

Canon unveils video-focused EOS R50 V, PowerShot V1, and power zoom lens to support creators with new filming and livestreaming features.

Most consumers now back up their data, but cloud storage limits push shift to hybrid solutions

87% of people now back up their data, but cloud limits and rising costs are driving a shift to hybrid storage solutions.

Garmin launches premium Connect+ plan to boost health and fitness tracking

Garmin introduces Connect+ with AI insights, advanced training tools, and social features to help users reach their health and fitness goals.

Google Assistant to be phased out on Waze for iPhone

Waze is removing Google Assistant from iPhones due to issues and plans to upgrade with improved voice integration, possibly using Gemini.

LinkedIn: How AI is reshaping hiring and workforce strategies in 2025

Discover how AI is transforming hiring and workforce strategies in 2025, from skills-based recruitment to internal mobility and continuous learning.

Qualcomm expands AI research with MovianAI acquisition

Qualcomm has acquired Vietnamese AI research firm MovianAI to boost its AI development in smartphones, PCs, and software-defined vehicles.

Roblox introduces new parental controls to enhance child safety

Roblox introduces new parental controls, allowing parents to block games, restrict friends, and monitor their childโ€™s activity for better safety.

Anthropic introduces Claude for Education, a new AI chatbot plan for universities

Anthropic launches Claude for Education, an AI chatbot plan for universities that offers advanced learning tools and administration support.

Exabeam introduces Nova, an agentic AI that boosts cybersecurity operations

Exabeam unveils Nova, a proactive AI agent that boosts security team productivity and reduces incident investigation time by over 50%.

Related Articles