Representative Ritchie Torres, representing New York's 15th congressional district, has introduced a piece of legislation titled the Power To The Players Act. The proposal focuses on the legal nature of digital purchases in the gaming sector.
Under the terms of the bill, the Federal Trade Commission would be tasked with creating a set of rules to ensure that consumers actually own the games they pay for. This would replace the current industry standard, where companies typically provide a licensing agreement rather than a permanent transfer of ownership.
What it means
If the legislation is enacted, it would shift the power dynamic between software publishers and consumers. By mandating ownership over licensing, the act seeks to provide gamers with more secure rights to the media they purchase digitally.
