No, you need to think like a lawyer. Let’s start from the end, if a court ordered GoG/Valve to transfer the account, they would do their best to do so, so saying so is meaningless. So the question becomes: How can a court order them to do so? Valve specifically states that a will is not valid, GoG doesn’t, but if the court decides that the will is valid Valve’s wording is meaningless, if on the other hand the court decides that a will is not valid for digital licenses then you wouldn’t get the court order for GoG, therefore mentions to will on their legal agreement is meaningless. And just a will doesn’t give you right to the account without a judge ordering so.
So long story short, both are meaningless, one says we will comply if forced and the other one says you can’t use a will, both means: you can’t use a will, but if a judge forces us we will comply.
I really think it’s a case of valve being explicit (no, your uncle can’t will you his steam collection), and gog having the same policy but looking for the closest way to say “yes” to avoid falling into the same PR trouble.
“No, access is lost when you die” is a valve support person giving a direct response to an individuals question.
“Yes, if we are given no legal choice” is a gog PR person answering a reporter to sound as good as possible.
It’s one of the better known downsides of digital media, so this whole thing feels a little… Much ado about nothing new.
No, you need to think like a lawyer. Let’s start from the end, if a court ordered GoG/Valve to transfer the account, they would do their best to do so, so saying so is meaningless. So the question becomes: How can a court order them to do so? Valve specifically states that a will is not valid, GoG doesn’t, but if the court decides that the will is valid Valve’s wording is meaningless, if on the other hand the court decides that a will is not valid for digital licenses then you wouldn’t get the court order for GoG, therefore mentions to will on their legal agreement is meaningless. And just a will doesn’t give you right to the account without a judge ordering so.
So long story short, both are meaningless, one says we will comply if forced and the other one says you can’t use a will, both means: you can’t use a will, but if a judge forces us we will comply.
That was very well explained. :)
I really think it’s a case of valve being explicit (no, your uncle can’t will you his steam collection), and gog having the same policy but looking for the closest way to say “yes” to avoid falling into the same PR trouble.
“No, access is lost when you die” is a valve support person giving a direct response to an individuals question.
“Yes, if we are given no legal choice” is a gog PR person answering a reporter to sound as good as possible.
It’s one of the better known downsides of digital media, so this whole thing feels a little… Much ado about nothing new.