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Microsoft Brings the Notion of Buying Games to End, Consumer Rights Groups Should Sue

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Summary: Not only is XBox eliminating the notion of owning and controlling one's console; new XBox paradigm aims to reduce one's control over purchased games, reducing buyers to temporary, transient consumers

There is some PR campaign coordinated by Microsoft's PR agencies which portrays Microsoft's 'XBox One' as an innovative thing even though it kind of imitates the Linux-powered Ouya, minus freedom aspects. There is already some backlash associated with revelations about licensing, harming the already-damaged XBox brand. "For many gamers'" says the British press, "swapping among friends is a free and legal way of experiencing more games for less hard-earned cash. But for Xbox users, that may be all about to change."



The same trend can be seen amid the rise of DRM-laden eBooks, which changes the notion of ownership even further. It take away from the customers' rights that we took for granted. Previously, it was evident that XBox machines could only ever be rented and now the same applies to games. It's also a renting paradigm, but people pay the full price as though they buy games. They don't.

Microsoft helps turn technology against users, yet again. In Germany, based on this new report, this would result in a lawsuit. Maybe it's time for a lawsuit against Microsoft, not Steam.

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