A friend of mine has had Steam account suspended/banned for buying CD-keys from an unauthorized source (Steam wrote), and has the last couple of days been unable to log onto Steam whatsoever.
First, is it common knowledge to know that 3rd party sellers was illegal? It surely surprised me in a bad way, that he got his account suspended.
What I fear is, that my account is worth ~$1000 and I've bought a few games from similar sites.
Second, if this is illegal - is Steam allowed to completely lock down an account, which still contains 100% 'legally' bought games bought from the Steam store?
Basically, as it seems right now, they're allowed to legally take away any game you've legally bought through Steam just because of one game being bought from a doubtful source?
Opinions, experiences and solutions - please share.
On October 15 2011 03:57 Roeder wrote: A friend of mine has had Steam account suspended/banned for buying CD-keys from an unauthorized source (Steam wrote), and has the last couple of days been unable to log onto Steam whatsoever.
First, is it common knowledge to know that 3rd party sellers was illegal? It surely surprised me in a bad way, that he got his account suspended.
What I fear is, that my account is worth ~$1000 and I've bought a few games from similar sites.
Second, if this is illegal - is Steam allowed to completely lock down an account, which still contains 100% 'legally' bought games bought from the Steam store?
Basically, as it seems right now, they're allowed to legally take away any game you've legally bought through Steam just because of one game being bought from a doubtful source?
Opinions, experiences and solutions - please share.
3rd party sellers are illegal yes. Yes, they can close access to whatever they want. Think if you steal X game but pay for Y they still need to make up for the stolen game. If you can't deal with the losses don't steal the games.
That's the risk you take trusting one company with all your games. I'm not exactly educated on their ToS but I wouldn't be surprised if they can lock your account for any reason at all.
Read the TOS, they can close your account if you break the TOS. Thats why I don't buy that much from steam. It sucks but it doesn't affect the majority. Still, tell your friend to see if he can negotiate something out
Never used Steam. Don't think I'll start either, but come on, buying CD key(s) from a 3rd party... Your friend needs to brain up. Obviously they want the money to go to them.
Unknowingly stolen, please. If we knew this was illegal we wouldn't have bought them. Under any circumstances.
Would he be in his right mind to sue (or threaten to do so) the third party then? Because I've just read their page, and I couldn't come up with anywhere it said that this was against Steam policies (apart from Steams own ToS)
Luckily for him, his account isn't worth much and only got three or four games on it - opposite to me, where I got roughly 80 games.
We will try to negotiate something out with either Steam or the 3rd party. Or try to.
On October 15 2011 04:09 dUTtrOACh wrote: Never used Steam. Don't think I'll start either, but come on, buying CD key(s) from a 3rd party... Your friend needs to brain up. Obviously they want the money to go to them.
They could've bought it with quantity discount. I know some business do so.
You don't pay to own a copy on steam, you pay to rent a game that they can take back from you at any given time, it's the same with starcraft 2 or world of warcraft, the ToS basicly ensures the companies pretty much every right regarding the game.
It just feels extremely unfair, that Steam is legally able to remove the games of your possession due to something like this. Especially when the rest was bought legally from the official Steam store.
They would be in their rightful mind to take away the specific game that was illegally bought, but ALL your games? Your whole account? I knew the actions they could take with VAC bans which is basically the same thing (removing your possibility to play the certain game) But again, all games?
On October 15 2011 04:10 Roeder wrote: Unknowingly stolen, please. If we knew this was illegal we wouldn't have bought them. Under any circumstances.
Would he be in his right mind to sue (or threaten to do so) the third party then? Because I've just read their page, and I couldn't come up with anywhere it said that this was against Steam policies (apart from Steams own ToS)
Luckily for him, his account isn't worth much and only got three or four games on it - opposite to me, where I got roughly 80 games.
We will try to negotiate something out with either Steam or the 3rd party. Or try to.
If you knew highly underpriced keys were illegal you wouldn't have bought them? What made you think they were legit in the first place? I'll add, though, that they're not stolen, they're just bought in countries where games cost a lot less and resold to other markets (EU/US). Still illegal. Still allows steam to close your account.
Edit: Obviously you should contact Valve and explain the situation (That you weren't aware they were bad keys) and ask to have your account reinstated, minus the illegal game/s.
On October 15 2011 04:17 Roeder wrote: It just feels extremely unfair, that Steam is legally able to remove the games of your possession due to something like this. Especially when the rest was bought legally from the official Steam store.
They would be in their rightful mind to take away the specific game that was illegally bought, but ALL your games? Your whole account? I knew the actions they could take with VAC bans which is basically the same thing (removing your possibility to play the certain game) But again, all games?
You should read the ToS before agreeing to it.
They have every right to remove every single game in your steam library if they feel like it. As already stated, you rent the games, you do not own them.
You can always try talking with steam, but there's no guarantees. What were you thinking anyway, buying from 3rd party sellers? It's common knowledge that such things isn't allowed, just look at items and such from wow, diablo, and such.
Take it to court. The ToS would probably be ruled unreasonable and hence not a legally binding contract. This happens all the time with this kind of thing.
No they can't deprive you of things you actually bought.
If i own a account on some MMO and bought gold or ingame-currency off a 3rd party source, Why should my entire account get locked instead of the currency removed? Then again, i keep a steam account just for the games i ONLY buy through stream, things such as those humble bundles and such that give me keys i throw on another account.
On October 15 2011 04:17 Roeder wrote: It just feels extremely unfair, that Steam is legally able to remove the games of your possession due to something like this. Especially when the rest was bought legally from the official Steam store.
They would be in their rightful mind to take away the specific game that was illegally bought, but ALL your games? Your whole account? I knew the actions they could take with VAC bans which is basically the same thing (removing your possibility to play the certain game) But again, all games?
Well technically you don't own the game. You only own the permission to play the games you payed for. They have the right to kick you out if you break their rules(just like a restaurant has the rights to kick you out, even if you payed your meal if you are distrupting the restaurant).
On October 15 2011 04:21 Snackysnacks wrote: If i own a account on some MMO and bought gold or ingame-currency off a 3rd party source, Why should my entire account get locked instead of the currency removed? Then again, i keep a steam account just for the games i ONLY buy through stream, things such as those humble bundles and such that give me keys i throw on another account.
Because you broke the rule despite being told that doing so would result in a termination of your account?
It depends on your country's laws. I dont know about Denmark, but in Germany the ToS is basically useless, doesnt matter if you sign it. If something illegal is in there it's still illegal, even if you sign it. The whole "rent the game" stuff is also very shady (especially when you own hardcopies of the games) and consumer protection laws protect people.
The problem is: What are you going to do? The lawyer cost & everything probably far exceeds what the account is worth.
On October 15 2011 04:21 Soleron wrote: Take it to court. The ToS would probably be ruled unreasonable and hence not a legally binding contract. This happens all the time with this kind of thing.
No they can't deprive you of things you actually bought.
Well dunno about european courts, but wouldn't it be more expensive for him to take it to court. And besides his account may only be temp suspended
EPT
