European Commission rejects new laws for Stop Destroying Videogames

Key Points:

• The European Commission declined to propose a legal obligation for game publishers to keep video games playable after commercial availability ends, citing existing intellectual property rights that protect creators' exclusive control over their works.
• The Commission emphasized that current EU consumer laws already safeguard consumers' economic interests, requiring publishers to disclose the duration and termination conditions of game contracts before purchase.
• Instead of new legislation, the Commission plans to engage with the video game industry and consumer groups to develop an industry code of conduct for managing games' "end of life" and to enhance awareness of consumer rights.
• This position may limit regulatory changes in other countries, as they could reference the Commission's stance to avoid new mandates, despite the complexities involved in maintaining online game services due to licensing and technical challenges.