EA Promises It Won't Delete Inactive Origin DLC

[Andy Chalk]

EA Promises It Won't Delete Inactive Origin DLC

Electronic Arts claims it absolutely will not delete paid content like DLC from inactive Origin [http://store.origin.com/] accounts, despite what it says in the T&C fine print.

There's an interesting paragraph in Section 5 [http://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBTERMS/US/en/PC], "Content and Entitlement Availability," it states, "We do not guarantee that any Content or Entitlement will be available at all times or at any given time or that we will continue to offer particular Content or Entitlements for any particular length of time. We reserve the right to change and update Content and Entitlements without notice to you. If you have not used your Entitlements or Account for twenty four (24) months or more and your Account has associated Entitlements, your Entitlements will expire and your Account may be cancelled for non-use."

"Entitlements [http://tos.ea.com/legalapp/WEBTERMS/US/en/PC#section3]," for the curious, "include but are not limited to paid and free downloadable content, unlockable content, digital and/or virtual assets, rights of use tied to unlock keys or codes, serial codes and/or online authentication of any kind, in-game achievements and virtual or fictional currency not otherwise governed by a Digital Services Agreement."

Put the two of them together and you might get the idea that EA will flush all that DLC you paid for down the toilet of digital oblivion if you don't visit Origin at least once every couple of years. It's hardly the most restrictive conditions ever imposed on customers but hey, you paid for this stuff! And now they're just going to take it all away if EA hits a bit of a dry spell with decent game releases?

Well, no, not really, or at least not according to an EA rep who told Platform Nation [http://www.platformnation.com/2011/07/17/eas-origin-may-delete-your-games-after-inactivity/] that the clause was included in the T&C for "legal protection" and that the company has no intention of actually deleting anybody's stuff. "Rest assured 100 percent we will never delete paid content,: the rep said.

Good enough! Right?


Permalink

 

[Nimcha]

I did not think they would.

When did people actually start reading these things though, did that South Park episode have such an impact?

 

[Zenode]

I'm waiting for the horde of "EA WILL DO IT ZEY ARE SO EV1L" people to come along.

Personally, I don't think EA will do it, but what kind of legal reasons are there that forces them to put in a clause that states they might delete your stuff after a period of inactivity?

 

[Kopikatsu]

Well...yeah. Have you ever read a ToS? They pretty much have to protect themselves from every little thing.

Here's an example that actually happened: There was a Lawyer in California who saw a palmfrawn laying on top of some powerlines. So he took a long metal stick used for cleaning the pool and smacked the power line, which was broken, while wet and standing in a puddle of water (Just got out of the pool). He was electrocuted to death. Then his family sued the power company for not warning people against the dangers of hitting power lines with a metal pole while wet.

So yeah. I'd blame the legal system for anything found in a ToS. It's all necessary to cover their asses.

 

[luvd1]

Really? Your having that s%#t in your fine print?

 

[cerebus23]

Well...yeah. Have you ever read a ToS? They pretty much have to protect themselves from every little thing.

Here's an example that actually happened: There was a Lawyer in California who saw a palmfrawn laying on top of some powerlines. So he took a long metal stick used for cleaning the pool and smacked the power line, which was broken, while wet and standing in a puddle of water (Just got out of the pool). He was electrocuted to death. Then his family sued the power company for not warning people against the dangers of hitting power lines with a metal pole while wet.

So yeah. I'd blame the legal system for anything found in a ToS. It's all necessary to cover their asses.

^This is why we need tort reform. And this is also why we need common sense, and calling stupid people stupid, it should be pre scool education that teaches that water and electricity do not mix and maybe 2 or 3rd grade sci class that teaches you metal is a conductor of electricity.

With all condolences to the family, but really none of you said wait a fing minute? None of you went to school or learned anything the entirety of your lives that should be common knowledge. That poking into electrical outlets with silverware is a bad idea, maybe waving a metal pole at a power line while wet while standing in water.............i mean if these people do not get tossed out of court on their ear for this then i must go ram my head into a chipper because all hope for humanity is lost.

 

[Notthatbright]

Most likely a poorly worded clause that indemnifies them from any liability should a virus knock out access to your DLC at any point.

However, the 24 months thing is pretty damn cut and dry. "If you have not used your Entitlements or Account for twenty four (24) months or more and your Account has associated Entitlements, your Entitlements will expire and your Account may be cancelled for non-use"

2 Years is an awfully long time to not play an EA game, but its definitely possible.

 

[Danpascooch]

Some rep said they won't do it? Well gee, that's enough for me! Time to switch all of my game buying to Origin, and entrust thousands of dollars to Mr.Rep's word!

 

[Something Amyss]

They're far less likely to now that they've been caught with their fine print showing.

 

[Stevepinto3]

Yeah, they're not going to delete your stuff just because your account was inactive. That's just in there in case they delete your stuff just because your account was inactive.

Wait.

I'm not trying to hate on EA really, but you do have to wonder why they feel they need to include that in the ToS. The only thing it really protects them against is, you know, the very thing they said they aren't doing.

"All right Mr. Johnson, if you'll just sign here."
"Wait, this line says that you're not responsible if you break into my house and shoot me."
"Oh, that? That's just a formality, you understand."
"But...why is it in here?"
"Look, we have no intention of shooting you in your own home Mr. Johnson, but sometimes these things just happen, you know?"

Not saying it's the same thing as that, but it just felt like a fun little comparison.

 

[RA92]

Well, Steam has a similar ToS, but what was so disturbing about Origin was how they put a specific timeframe.

 

[RA92]

Yeah, they're not going to delete your stuff just because your account was inactive. That's just in there in case they delete your stuff just because your account was inactive.

Wait.

I'm not trying to hate on EA really, but you do have to wonder why they feel they need to include that in the ToS. The only thing it really protects them against is, you know, the very thing they said they aren't doing.

"All right Mr. Johnson, if you'll just sign here."
"Wait, this line says that you're not responsible if you break into my house and shoot me."
"Oh, that? That's just a formality, you understand."
"But...why is it in here?"
"Look, we have no intention of shooting you in your own home Mr. Johnson, but sometimes these things just happen, you know?"

Not saying it's the same thing as that, but it just felt like a fun little comparison.

I think a more appropriate analogy would've been the bit in Shakespeare's Merchant of Venice where Shylock promises that 'the pound of flesh' bit in the contract was all in sport.

 

[viranimus]

Yes.. this totally reassures me /eyeroll

And notice how it doesnt say inactive accounts will be deleted, just the DLC will be safe. Well what about the other licenses like say.. Oh I dont know, the original game for which the DLC goes with?

Look I am sorry, I dont buy this whole "legal protection" argument. Compare the TOS of Origin and steam to something like GoG. How is it GoG is doing just fine with about 7 pages less of legalese?

Honestly I DONT think Origin will delete accounts and such. But again, if its not a realistic possibility especially when the company has the trump card of being able to shut off an account with or without reason anyway, then what purpose is there to add this in?

 

[Kopikatsu]

Well...yeah. Have you ever read a ToS? They pretty much have to protect themselves from every little thing.

Here's an example that actually happened: There was a Lawyer in California who saw a palmfrawn laying on top of some powerlines. So he took a long metal stick used for cleaning the pool and smacked the power line, which was broken, while wet and standing in a puddle of water (Just got out of the pool). He was electrocuted to death. Then his family sued the power company for not warning people against the dangers of hitting power lines with a metal pole while wet.

So yeah. I'd blame the legal system for anything found in a ToS. It's all necessary to cover their asses.

^This is why we need tort reform. And this is also why we need common sense, and calling stupid people stupid, it should be pre scool education that teaches that water and electricity do not mix and maybe 2 or 3rd grade sci class that teaches you metal is a conductor of electricity.

With all condolences to the family, but really none of you said wait a fing minute? None of you went to school or learned anything the entirety of your lives that should be common knowledge. That poking into electrical outlets with silverware is a bad idea, maybe waving a metal pole at a power line while wet while standing in water.............i mean if these people do not get tossed out of court on their ear for this then i must go ram my head into a chipper because all hope for humanity is lost.

There is no such thing as common sense in law. There is only law. (The family won the case, by the way.)

It's like the McDonalds woman a while back who spilled hot coffee on her lap, then sued for $5 million...and won. You asked for hot coffee, you got hot coffee, anything that happens after that is your own damn fault.

I don't really get why everyone has to say 'All condolences to the family' or some other little disclaimer, though. Fuck 'em and fuck the dead guy. Suing isn't supposed to be an easy money button, but it's sure as hell treated that way. Being sue-happy is probably one of the (many) reasons that Americans are viewed in such a negative light.

 

[caselj01]

When I read the headline I thought it was about EA deleting the dlc for origins (as in dragon age origins) and I was like "OH NO!" but then I read the article and realised it was about origin (as in EA's new digital distribution thing) and I was like "I do not care about that".
True story.

 

[teh_Canape]

Well the valve fanboys are just got to jump all over this one.

I don't think they have any grounds for it

sure, Steam is excellent, but it also had a very, very shitty launch

 

[RA92]

Well, Steam has a similar ToS, but what was so disturbing about Origin was how they put a specific timeframe.

Well I would be more woried if they didnt have a timeframe. Anybody who simply states that we are allowed to delete accounts if they become inactive without stating what they consider inactive would be very untrustworthy.

Well, Steam holds the rights to cancel accounts for cheating, running pirated games through Steam, etc. EA always had the same rights - remember how they cancelled a guy's account for 'misbehaving' in the Bioware forums? So there is no reason to add an arbitrary time frame - one that especially has the potential to make you lose your games not because you cracked your game or tried to circumvent regional pricing - but purely due to your inactivity.

Steam, D2D, Gamer's Gate, Impulse, GoG - none of these services have any 'inactivity' shit like this.

 

[microhive]

Well, that's not 100% until they have removed it from the Terms of Service.