ECA's Hal Halpin to game pubs: disclose DRM and standardize EULAs

[nemowolf]

from Ars Technica:

Hal Halpin is fighting the good fight for consumers, and the Entertainment Consumer Association has told the FTC it wants two things: full disclosure, on the box, of included DRM, as well as a standardized End-User Licensing Agreement. What's crazy? They might get it. Ars speaks to the man who wants you to have a voice in the gaming industry.

Halpin seems to be very much in the know for what my councers are and i am damn glad that someone with some muscle to flex is fighting for me. First thing he points out is that although Steam is DRM free, in its own way it is DRM as you require the Steam client to download and install the game. I dont think i have ever uninstalled the Steam Client and tried a game but im sure that its going to ask you to reinstall the Steam.

Something that i didnt ever really think about is that we dont really own our games anymore. That does make it a bit distressing as i have always thought that we did. Again, its nice to know that someone is out there fighting for rights even if they are future rights as we move more to a digital content stage.

[KarmaKiller]

That's cool that somebody with a voice that people actually listen to is standing up for the right thing. That's few and far between anymore.

[vass0922]

on a similar note I like that some of the digital music distributors are going back to selling music sans DRM

I just bought my first steam game this past weekend coincidentally
Its just railroad tycoon 3 for 10 bucks *shrug*

overall I agree, some of the crap they put on games to keep DRM is insane
I have no problem with the companies getting paid for their work, I'm against piracy of a product.. but some of that DRM crap is just way too painful

[nemowolf]

That's cool that somebody with a voice that people actually listen to is standing up for the right thing. That's few and far between anymore.

Thank you Karma!!! I am glad someone sees the need for an advocate for gamers!