Four leading digital storefronts have been reported by the Norwegian Consumer Council (NCC) for breaching European consumer legislation.
A survey carried out in December last year found that Nintendo failed to offer consumers the option to cancel software pre-ordered on the eShop.
Steam, Origin, and the PlayStation Store meanwhile were reported for not adhering to the right of withdrawal, yet failed to meet the criteria to be exempt.
The NCC complaint noted that Steam, Origin, and the PlayStation Store are in breach for not obtaining "express consent from the consumer and his acknowledgement that he thereby loses his right of withdrawal".
Right of withdrawal is an EU law which to protect consumers, allowing allowing them to refund a purchase from the moment they make it until 14 days after receiving the product.
The NCC says it previously wrote to Nintendo asking for the platform holder to change its practices and comply with the rules. This led to nowhere however, and the NCC is now filing a formal complaint against all four companies.
Director of digital services at the NCC, Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad, said in a statement the breach of Norwegian and European consumer contracts "shows a lack of clarity by the four powerful gaming platforms".
He added that digital games "do not exist in a lawless vacuum" and that big gaming providers, as some of the largest entertainment companies in the world, still have to "observe laws and rules and honour consumer rights just like everyone else".
Although Steam was called out by the NCC, the distributor does actually offer a refund policy similar to the right of withdrawal which allows consumers to return a game within 14 days of purchase, providing they have less than two hours of recorded game time.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/artic...-reported-for-breaching-european-consumer-law
A survey carried out in December last year found that Nintendo failed to offer consumers the option to cancel software pre-ordered on the eShop.
Steam, Origin, and the PlayStation Store meanwhile were reported for not adhering to the right of withdrawal, yet failed to meet the criteria to be exempt.
The NCC complaint noted that Steam, Origin, and the PlayStation Store are in breach for not obtaining "express consent from the consumer and his acknowledgement that he thereby loses his right of withdrawal".
Right of withdrawal is an EU law which to protect consumers, allowing allowing them to refund a purchase from the moment they make it until 14 days after receiving the product.
The NCC says it previously wrote to Nintendo asking for the platform holder to change its practices and comply with the rules. This led to nowhere however, and the NCC is now filing a formal complaint against all four companies.
Director of digital services at the NCC, Finn Lützow-Holm Myrstad, said in a statement the breach of Norwegian and European consumer contracts "shows a lack of clarity by the four powerful gaming platforms".
He added that digital games "do not exist in a lawless vacuum" and that big gaming providers, as some of the largest entertainment companies in the world, still have to "observe laws and rules and honour consumer rights just like everyone else".
Although Steam was called out by the NCC, the distributor does actually offer a refund policy similar to the right of withdrawal which allows consumers to return a game within 14 days of purchase, providing they have less than two hours of recorded game time.
https://www.gamesindustry.biz/artic...-reported-for-breaching-european-consumer-law
