Senator Urges FTC to Enforce Transparency in Digital Goods Sales

Oregon Senator Ron Wyden has written to FTC Chair Andrew Ferguson, urging the commission to mandate that companies clarify whether consumers truly own digital goods like ebooks or video games. Wyden argues consumers deserve to know license durations, conditions for expiration or revocation, and transferability or resale rights. He calls for clear disclosure before and at the point of sale, ensuring consumers understand what they're purchasing and the guarantees involved. This follows common practices where consumers only license access, not ownership, leading to potential loss of access due to account bans or platform changes. California already prohibits using words like "buy" without disclosing licensing details, a change that prompted Valve to update its Steam checkout. Wyden emphasizes the need for FTC guidance to protect consumers and ensure fair practices.