Full title: Ubisoft says you "cannot complain" it shut down The Crew because you never actually owned it, and you weren't "deceived" by the lack of an offline version "to access a decade-old, discontinued video game"

Ubisoft's lawyers have responded to a class action lawsuit over the shutdown of The Crew, arguing that it was always clear that you didn't own the game and calling for a dismissal of the case outright.

The class action was filed in November 2024, and Ubisoft's response came in February 2025, though it's only come to the public's attention now courtesy of Polygon. The full response from Ubisoft attorney Steven A. Marenberg picks apart the claims of plaintiffs Matthew Cassell and Alan Liu piece by piece, but the most common refrain is that The Crew's box made clear both that the game required an internet connection and that Ubisoft retained the right to revoke access "to one or more specific online features" with a 30-day notice at its own discretion.

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[–] Phegan@lemmy.world 55 points 2 days ago (3 children)

If buying isn't owning, piracy isn't stealing.

[–] Blindsite@lemmy.today 8 points 2 days ago

The problem is it's getting harder and harder to pirate games, especially games that are entirely online.

[–] aeternum@lemmy.blahaj.zone 5 points 2 days ago

I like the cut of your jib.

[–] arc@lemm.ee -2 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

When you "buy" software, you're buying a license that grants you permission to use it subject to the terms & conditions. The stealing as the law would see it is from using software without purchasing a license or using it in violation of the license.

It even extends to digital content people "buy" on Steam, or Google Play, or Amazon including books, music, and videos. You didn't buy that content, even if you think you did. You bought a license to it which is why occasionally Amazon or whoever will just scrub the content from your account without your consent. That's also why in some countries you pay VAT on e-books even though you don't pay VAT on real books - because you actually bought a software license which is liable to VAT.

So the best advice is don't buy digital media from online services. For games and software it is unavoidable but recognize you don't legally own squat although most console games on disc or cartridge can still be sold second hand. But even that is being eroded. Nintendo apparently are planning to sell "physical" games in stores but you open it up and there is a redemption code inside. Sony and Microsoft have both tried to get away from physical media too.