Ubisoft Says Out Loud: We Want People to Get Used to Not Owning What They Bought (techdirt.com)

Article summary

Ubisoft's director of subscriptions stated that the company aims to make players comfortable with not owning their games, instead opting for a subscription-based model. This approach has sparked debate about the concept of ownership in the digital age. The company's subscription service has seen significant growth, with millions of subscribers and over half a billion hours played. However, some argue that this model is problematic and that consumers should be aware of what they are actually buying.

Main themes

• Digital ownership
• Subscription-based models
• Piracy and intellectual property
• Language and semantics
• Civil disobedience
• Unfair pricing and licensing agreements
• Value of intellectual property
• Social agreement between creators and consumers

What commenters say

• Piracy is not equivalent to theft, as it does not involve the physical taking of property.
• The concept of ownership is being redefined in the digital age, with companies like Ubisoft pushing for a subscription-based model.
• Some argue that piracy can be justified as a form of civil disobedience against unfair pricing and restrictive licensing agreements.
• Others believe that piracy is a clear moral wrong, as it involves the unauthorized use of someone else's intellectual property.
• The use of language, such as 'buy' and 'own', can be misleading in the context of digital products, which are often licensed rather than sold.
• The value of intellectual property and the impact of piracy on creators and industries are complex issues with no clear consensus.
• Some commentators argue that the focus on piracy as a moral issue distracts from the real problems of unfair pricing and restrictive licensing agreements.
• The notion of a 'social agreement' between creators and consumers is being challenged by the rise of digital distribution and subscription-based models.