The digital game platform Steam and its owner Valve took a surprising step in the last 24 hours. Users opening the platform were greeted with a pop-up window asking them to accept a new Steam Subscriber Agreement (SSA). Valve also announced these changes through an official blog post on the Steam Community forum. However, one detail in these changes could profoundly shake the gaming world.
Steam has restored the right for players to sue!
The most notable change is the removal of the binding arbitration clause from the agreement. Binding arbitration is a practice that anticipates resolving disputes outside of court. In this system, a paid arbitrator appointed by the company, rather than a judge, would be involved.
According to the new agreement, customers will now first try to resolve their issues with the Steam Support team. If a solution cannot be reached, disputes can be taken to court instead of individual arbitration.
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This change is significant as a step against the arbitration clauses that have become common in service terms agreements in recent years. Nowadays, when you download an app, sign up for a website, or sign a new employment contract, you often unknowingly waive your right to sue.
The new SSA also does not include a class action waiver clause, allowing plaintiffs in similar situations to sue together. This change also stands out as an important deviation from other service terms agreements.
So, what does all this mean? In summary, you are paying a game developer for a service they promised to provide you.
However, until recently, regardless of how big the gap was between what was promised and what was delivered, Steam did not allow you to take this situation to legal platforms and assert your rights. With this new era, such situations will no longer exist, and game developers will be more selective in promoting features they cannot deliver.
Experts indicate that this change could set an important precedent for digital platforms and user rights. There is great curiosity about whether other major tech companies will take similar steps in the near future.
