Valve updates Steam TOS and privacy policy

[PalZer0]

And there's a "no class action lawsuit" clause.

http://store.steampowered.com/news/8523/

[revengous]

and?

[PalZer0]

Just found something else too. Section 3A puts in writing what most of us have known for a while.

A. Payment Authorization.

When you provide payment information to Valve or to one of its payment processors, you represent to Valve that you are the authorized user of the card, PIN, key or account associated with that payment, and you authorize Valve to charge your credit card or to process your payment with the chosen third-party payment processor for any Subscription, Steam Wallet funds, or other fees incurred by you. Valve may require you to provide your address or other information in order to meet Valve’s obligations under applicable tax law.

For Subscriptions purchased based on an agreed usage period, where recurring payments are made in exchange for continued usage, (“Recurring Payment Subscriptions”), by continuing to use the Recurring Payment Subscription, you agree and reaffirm that Valve is authorized to charge your credit card (or your Steam Wallet, if funded), or to process your payment with any other applicable third-party payment processor, for any applicable recurring payment amounts. If you have purchased any Recurring Payment Subscriptions, you agree to notify Valve promptly of any changes to your credit card account number, its expiration date and/or your billing address, or your PayPal or other payment account number, and you agree to notify Valve promptly if your credit card or PayPal or other payment account expires or is canceled for any reason.

If your use of Steam is subject to any type of use or sales tax, then Valve may also charge you for those taxes, in addition to the Subscription or other fees published in the Rules of Use. The European Union VAT (“VAT”) tax amounts collected by Valve reflect VAT due on the value of any Software or Subscription.

You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, we may terminate your access to your Account.

EDIT: The full agreement can be found here.

[Auld]

They've removed the right to class action, BUT they will pay the costs of individual arbitration regardless of the outcome.

details here: http://arstechnica.com/gaming/2012/07/v ... ion-suits/

[TheD]

Just found something else too. Section 3A puts in writing what most of us have known for a while.

A. Payment Authorization.

When you provide payment information to Valve or to one of its payment processors, you represent to Valve that you are the authorized user of the card, PIN, key or account associated with that payment, and you authorize Valve to charge your credit card or to process your payment with the chosen third-party payment processor for any Subscription, Steam Wallet funds, or other fees incurred by you. Valve may require you to provide your address or other information in order to meet Valve’s obligations under applicable tax law.

For Subscriptions purchased based on an agreed usage period, where recurring payments are made in exchange for continued usage, (“Recurring Payment Subscriptions”), by continuing to use the Recurring Payment Subscription, you agree and reaffirm that Valve is authorized to charge your credit card (or your Steam Wallet, if funded), or to process your payment with any other applicable third-party payment processor, for any applicable recurring payment amounts. If you have purchased any Recurring Payment Subscriptions, you agree to notify Valve promptly of any changes to your credit card account number, its expiration date and/or your billing address, or your PayPal or other payment account number, and you agree to notify Valve promptly if your credit card or PayPal or other payment account expires or is canceled for any reason.

If your use of Steam is subject to any type of use or sales tax, then Valve may also charge you for those taxes, in addition to the Subscription or other fees published in the Rules of Use. The European Union VAT (“VAT”) tax amounts collected by Valve reflect VAT due on the value of any Software or Subscription.

You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, we may terminate your access to your Account.

EDIT: The full agreement can be found here.

Valve are a bunch of (A five letter word starting with C).

[nit3hunt3r]

You agree that you will not use IP proxying or other methods to disguise the place of your residence, whether to circumvent geographical restrictions on game content, to purchase at pricing not applicable to your geography, or for any other purpose. If you do this, we may terminate your access to your Account.

Valve are a bunch of (A five letter word starting with C).

Well, I don't work with Valve so I have no idea what I'm talking about. However, if you look at it from another angle, they might b under pressure from publishers/distributors to have that clause, as opposed to the fact that they are willingly/actively trying to stop region lock bypasses.

[Auld]

Pretty sure it has always stated that, pretty sure they've never attempted to track/trace people using VPNs.

Gifted games from overseas friends is a great way to circumvent this rule.

Can you imagine if Valve banned someone with several thousand dollars worth of games in their catalog? Not going to happen, far too damaging to their business model.

[TheD]

Pretty sure it has always stated that, pretty sure they've never attempted to track/trace people using VPNs.

Gifted games from overseas friends is a great way to circumvent this rule.

Can you imagine if Valve banned someone with several thousand dollars worth of games in their catalog? Not going to happen, far too damaging to their business model.

They have sent emails out during the summer sale threatening to ban people that have been gifting.

[Cas Bitton]

They have sent emails out during the summer sale threatening to ban people that have been gifting.

I'd love to read these emails, got a link handy?

I can see Valve going after stores who trade in gifting restricted products.

[Auld]

I have been gifted probably 5-6 games over the last year from an overseas friend, no emails.

Got any links? Be interested to read up on it.

[PirateEggs]

It hadn't been updated since '09, it's about time it's updated.

If I want a game on Steam that cost more in Aus, I either don't buy and spend my money elsewhere, or buy the retail copy, if it's a Steamworks game it doesn't matter either way. If you can't find a 'proper' way of doing it, why waste your time? It's not that hard, and besides, there are hundreds, upon thousands of CD key selling places online. Pretty sure you will be able to find a few legit and cheap (enough) ones out there.

Auld, I hate your avatar, it's too cool. I was watching for about 5 minutes, okay, maybe more than that. So mesmerising.

[Auld]

Auld, I hate your avatar, it's too cool. I was watching for about 5 minutes, okay, maybe more than that. So mesmerising.

Ahaha Wyld posted it randomly in the 180 x 100 thread.....had to have it.

[TheD]

They have sent emails out during the summer sale threatening to ban people that have been gifting.

I'd love to read these emails, got a link handy?

I can see Valve going after stores who trade in gifting restricted products.

Some people on the neogaf steam summer sale thread that gifted had got emails that said that they had locked the account from buying games (I can not remember the exact text and I think it was only the first line of the email), but a few days later I saw an email a Russian steam gifter got that had the exact same text at the start of the email but went further and said that steam will ban your account if you are gifting games so people could get them cheaper.

[Auld]

So basically they are targeting prolific gifters....at least it seems that way.

[ginji]

I've gifted over $2200 worth of games (and that's the paid for value!) over the last 3 years "from" the US. Haven't received anything from Valve about it, not a peep.