EU rejects new law for online-only games; Stop Killing Games vows to press on

The EU Commission has decided not to recommend new legislation preventing publishers from revoking access to online-only games, stating, "The Commission considers that at this stage it cannot propose a legal obligation to keep video games playable after they stop being provided commercially." The ruling is a setback for Stop Killing Games, but the campaign's founder says there is still cause for hope.

The Commission pointed to existing intellectual property rights, noting rights holders "enjoy exclusive rights over their creations" and that "other intellectual property rights may also be relevant as they may protect different visual and technological aspects of a video game." It will instead meet with industry and consumer representatives "with the aim to draw up an industry code of conduct on managing video games' 'end of life,'" and promote an awareness campaign on consumer rights.

In other words, very little concrete action is happening.

European Union

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