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[Darak]

There's nothing to be afraid of if you're not doing anything wrong and even if you are the chances of getting disabled are slim, you'd have to draw a lot of attention to yourself. People don't get access to their accounts revoked for making simple mistakes or using features of the platform as intended, people don't get disabled for no good reason. You're functioning on the defined basis of total paranoia without rationality, you're free to do whatever you want but you're tip toeing around imaginary landmines right now due to an illogical fear rooted in nothing.

Yeah, so if you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to fear. People who abide by that rule often forget it's not for them to decide what is right or wrong, though.

Valve alone is judge, jury and executioner in all Steam suspension cases, so I'm functioning on the basis that they are not to be trusted. I don't think it is very irrational when we have a good example right here of them abusing their power: killing your account with all your games is wrong. I don't care if OP was obnoxious to Valve employees or used some hack tool to circumvent a forum ban. Those things should grant a community ban, or perhaps even an online gaming ban, but not destroying an entire library with years of legally purchased games.

 

[Zaffo]

If anything this "incident" makes me feel safer in the Valve enviroment, im all for zero tollerance towards hackers.
I trust Valve with their bans, more than i thrust random hacker guy who is doing shady back end stuff for his friends while banned.

 

[LucidFeuer]

I don't understand what this thread is about.

Steam has no legal right to deleted/ban an account (as soon as you legally bought ANYTHING on it) unless you live un dumbistan in which case I'm sorry but you don't have nor do you deserve any rights.

If you live in a civilised country however, this is absolutely illegal and Steam would owe big fines if you were to court with absolutely 100% that you win both your account and huge damages back.

 

[LucidFeuer]

If anything this "incident" makes me feel safer in the Valve enviroment, im all for zero tollerance towards hackers.
I trust Valve with their bans, more than i thrust random hacker guy who is doing shady back end stuff for his friends while banned.

How do we block users? There's a level of scumery below which I don't even want to engage.

 

[LucidFeuer]

I can't believe someone can just disable/ban your account and pretty much wipe out all your purchases along with it.

FFS they can't, that's illegal, it's called theft, there might be defendible cases in dumbistan (USA) but nowhere in the civilised world is this remotely legal.

 

[Zaffo]

So people should be allowed hack and mess with other users accounts, as long as they have a purchase?
They guy who OP is talking about even had his warning, and kept on breaking the rules, Steam is no random gaming forum but a billion dollars service, and Valve priority should be keeping their paying customers (who actually follows the rules of the service) safe.

 

[cHaOs667]

FFS they can't, that's illegal, it's called theft, there might be defendible cases in dumbistan (USA) but nowhere in the civilised world is this remotely legal.

What is illegal? To revoke a licence?

The only thing you aquire if you are buying a Steam powered game is a licence to use the application/game.
And if you are violating the terms and conditions of the licence it can be revoked. And this works not only in the US but in all countries where Steam is official available.

 

[LucidFeuer]

What is illegal? To revoke a licence?

The only thing you aquire if you are buying a Steam powered game is a licence to use the application/game.
And if you are violating the terms and conditions of the licence it can be revoked. And this works not only in the US but in all countries where Steam is official available.

Absolutely not, the only way there is to violate a licence of use is if you copy and sell it which even then doesn't regard your own single copy, what you buy (the licence) is yours period, and outside of the US which is fucked-up, basic mercantile laws which dictate that no company has a right to steal (if there's no refund that's the word) what you bought under any circumstances, applies.

Plus it seems to me that it's not OP's wrong-doing, but a way more grave question of mod abuse and theft of legally acquired licences without integral refund (which is the only case there could be for Steam under Licence terms violation, but even then it is not a given since the company can not force refund and take back a concluded sale without buyer acceptance).

 

[JohnnyFootball]

That's why I never join any Steam discussion, add friends on Steam, or chat through its interface. I have an account with hundreds of games which I've accumulated through the years (it's thousands of dollars of value) and any random moderator has the ability to permanently delete my account, blocking me to play any and all of my games forever, with no justification required and no compensation allowed. It's scary as hell.

I don't care about policies, rules or guidelines. There are humans behind those tools and any of those things are open to interpretation. Their interpretation, not yours or mine.

And people on GAF criticize me for no longer supporting Steam when I'm given the choice.

I now buy every game on GOG and won't use Steam unless their is no other choice.

 

[A.Romero]

It sucks but this is what happens with digital distribution and modern gaming in general. We are renting access to a service, we don't own anything.


Although this case seems to be a legitimate effort to keep the community safe, it is very worrisome to know that you could lose access to your library. I have around 600 games on my Steam account and would hate to lose access to them. That said, I'm a member since 2005 and never had any issues so far. Probably due to the fact that I keep mostly to myself and actually behave in online communities (no hacks, no griefing etc). However, it concerns me that a false positive or whatever could put me in OP's situation and lose 12 years of investment in a platform...

It's the same for every platform now in case you didn't know...

 

[Kaby]

FFS they can't, that's illegal, it's called theft, there might be defendible cases in dumbistan (USA) but nowhere in the civilised world is this remotely legal.

I can't do anything, because as said in the SSA they can terminate an access at any time for the any reason.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

I don't understand what this thread is about.

Steam has no legal right to deleted/ban an account (as soon as you legally bought ANYTHING on it) unless you live un dumbistan in which case I'm sorry but you don't have nor do you deserve any rights.

If you live in a civilised country however, this is absolutely illegal and Steam would owe big fines if you were to court with absolutely 100% that you win both your account and huge damages back.

FFS they can't, that's illegal, it's called theft, there might be defendible cases in dumbistan (USA) but nowhere in the civilised world is this remotely legal.

Valve is 100% within their legal rights to do this, you have no idea what you're talking about.

 

[CrustyBritches]

FFS they can't, that's illegal, it's called theft, there might be defendible cases in dumbistan (USA) but nowhere in the civilised world is this remotely legal.

OP and his friends are fluent in Russian and using hacking tools to ban/unban accounts, and you come up with "defendible" and "dumbistan"? Are you sure "dumbistan" isn't population: 1...you?

 

[Kaby]

OP and his friends are fluent in Russian and using hacking tools to ban/unban accounts, and you come up with "defendible" and "dumbistan"? Are you sure "dumbistan" isn't population: 1...you?

1. This tool is not "hacking" one. This is an official tool from Valve https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=6416-FHVM-3982
And I tested it only on my own account.
2. Forum issue was finally patched (nothing to do with account's bans). It's just prevent the user from posting on the game specific hub (Example: The Witcher 3)
3. The language do not change anything.

 

[e0n]

Why were you so adamant on trying to change your community ban when you've already been told they're going to deactivate your account? It's like you wanted to be coddled by a business with over 100 million users.

 

[KRyPT]

Sorry OP but it seems like you did this to yourself. It’s probably time to move on and buy a Switch

 

[Kaby]

Sorry OP but it seems like you did this to yourself. It’s probably time to move on and buy a Switch

Nintendo Switch? Why not Sony PlayStation 4 (or even Pro), or XBOX ONE X for playing PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS with 15 fps?

 

[JaseC]

Sorry, I don't like quoting entire messages because that makes the answer hard to read, I wasn't trying to be obtuse.

I mean, the rest of that sentence is just nine words and they happen to firmly contextualise the quote, but okay.

But that's exactly how it should work IMHO. If I legally purchase a game, I should be able to access that game forever, regardless of anything I do in some online community some time later.

That is how it works. As I mentioned earlier in the thread, the OP's community ban didn't affect the his access to his game library, only his ability to interact with Steam Community features.

Edit: The Steam Support article I linked to doesn't list the particular restrictions, but here's a screenshot of the alert (not my image):

 

[Kaby]

(not my image):

May I ask you one question? Why you are always append "not my image" to the an example?

I also noticed a lot of other users, who often append "not advertising" and so on. (But in the last case I can understand this - User don't want to get an infraction / warning or other punishment from a forum moderator).

 

[Arksy]

I'm so thankful that this is patently illegal here in Australia. OP if you live in Australia feel free to PM me I can help direct you to legal channels that should be able to aid you.

 

[Kaby]

I'm so thankful that this is patently illegal here in Australia. OP if you live in Australia feel free to PM me I can help direct you to legal channels that should be able to aid you.

I'm currently in the same timezone (Sydney, Australia). PM me with your text / template. Thanks!

 

[Arksy]

The real question is did you make purchases on steam while you were in Australia? If so, when?

 

[Kaby]

The real question is did you make purchases on steam while you were in Australia? If so, when?

I'm sorry. This kind of info is not for the public discussions (PM me here through profile "Start conversation" button).

 

[JaseC]

May I ask you one question? Why you are always append "not my image" to the an example?

It's just to clarify that the account featured in the image isn't mine.

 

[Kaby]

It's just to clarify that the account featured in the image isn't mine.

I thought it's very obvious for the each visitor of this forum.

 

[JaseC]

I thought it's very obvious for the each visitor of this forum.

There's no harm in being thorough. It has been quite a while since I've posted my own screenshot of the client and virtually all of the users who'd recognise my account name no longer post here.

 

[LucidFeuer]

Absolutely not, the only way there is to violate a licence of use is if you copy and sell it which even then doesn't regard your own single copy, what you buy (the licence) is yours period, and outside of the US which is fucked-up, basic mercantile laws which dictate that no company has a right to steal what you bought under any circumstances, applies.

Valve is 100% within their legal rights to do this, you have no idea what you're talking about.

You must live in dumbistan, you don't have nor deserve any rights. I'm talking about people living in normal/civilised country where the same mercantile laws have applied for 400 years: NOBODY has a right to steal back what you bought with your money, period, no workarounds.

 

[Blam]

I mean valves allowed to do this. It's in their TOS, and who cares if you found a bug. Valve doesn't care and they won't reverse it they deleted your steam account plain and simple.

Literally gave you hundreds of warnings it seems and then you're complaining about it happening now. You should really make a test account to test shit on a service like this, and tell an employee that you're doing so when you do do it.

 

[Ganado]

You must live in dumbistan, you don't have nor deserve any rights. I'm talking about people living in normal/civilised country where the same mercantile laws have applied for 400 years: NOBODY has a right to steal back what you bought with your money, period, no workarounds.

So if I bought 1 year of XBL/PSN+ and got banned because I hacked my console, can I sue them? Better yet, if I bought a game from their stores and got my console and account banned, can I sue them?

EDIT: I know this isn't about Microsoft or Sony, but I'd believe that most online content providors have the rights to cancel your entitlement to content you purchase.

 

[BTHR Zero X]

So if I bought 1 year of XBL/PSN+ and got banned because I hacked my console, can I sue them? Better yet, if I bought a game from their stores and got my console and account banned, can I sue them?

EDIT: I know this isn't about Microsoft or Sony, but I'd believe that most online content providors have the rights to cancel your entitlement to content you purchase.

I think the issue they are trying to raise is using an official product the way it was meant to be used resulted in a unpredictable event which caused the ban. Which was due to using said official tool on their account.


The official tool should be under fire if that is the case here, as it could have effected more then one person by accident and more may have been banned or deleted because of it.

 

[Ganado]

I think the issue they are trying to raise is using an official product the way it was meant to be used resulted in a unpredictable event which caused the ban. Which was due to using said official tool on their account.


The official tool should be under fire if that is the case here, as it could have effected more then one person by accident and more may have been banned or deleted because of it.

But it wasn't used they way it was meant to be used. He actively knew what he did when he did that and instead of just taking the L, he continued to press on after they warned him. Atleast that's what I get when he says he was banned 6 months for using it, then he wanted access again when Steam Sales were coming up so he used it again and said I want the ban reinstated. Once again, he should've just taken the 6 months but he kept pressing on, got warned with a permanent suspension and still pressed on. While I might not agree 100% to why he was banned from Steam Community, he still would've have had access to his games.

 

[Mattyp]

So if I bought 1 year of XBL/PSN+ and got banned because I hacked my console, can I sue them? Better yet, if I bought a game from their stores and got my console and account banned, can I sue them?

EDIT: I know this isn't about Microsoft or Sony, but I'd believe that most online content providors have the rights to cancel your entitlement to content you purchase.

If they came into your house and revoked games you had paid for and no longer able to hell yes. This is literally what steam has done in this situation, banning him from multiplayer community etc fine I understand that. Revoking game access? That is NOT LEGAL. TOS mean absolute shit in the real world and steam would be laughed out of 90% of the worlds courts pointing to it.

Sadly OP if this ever happens in the future tell them you live in Australia and contact the ACCC. I stopped using steam years ago, VALVE as a company is one of the most cancerous in gaming.

 

[LucidFeuer]

So if I bought 1 year of XBL/PSN+ and got banned because I hacked my console, can I sue them? Better yet, if I bought a game from their stores and got my console and account banned, can I sue them?

EDIT: I know this isn't about Microsoft or Sony, but I'd believe that most online content providors have the rights to cancel your entitlement to content you purchase.

No, because XBL/PSN+ are continued services, which means you're not buying a product (as in unlimited licence of access and use) but a contract of continued service providing which can be terminated at any moment for due reasons. In fact not any reasons since there's a case that can be done about reimbursement.

The second case is more complicated: if your account gets banned (your console cannot be terminated or it's use disrupted (as again, this is a product) but in dumbistan, there's a litigation that will most likely dictate than even if you STILL have legal right to the licence, the company has a right to terminate the service of access for any justified reasons.

In civilised countries however, the fact that products (licences) you buy are locked behind a service, makes it compulsory for the company to still provide access to content you own or provide other solutions like downloading a copy of data.

That's why in the case of OP, Steam can absolutely ban you from any service that is NOT related to the access of your library or any content you paid for (so they can't ban you from accessing your inventory, in fact it's probably illegal to prevent your from trading too). That's why OP will absolutely win without debate in a court case if Steam didn't provide such access, but will also be granted damages if the ban was done without due processes and reasons.

 

[LucidFeuer]

Also that's why most digital platform that say, close, give you a certain period of time to download all your data and content, or that even if games get removed or even banned on Steam, those who own it can still download it: it's not because they're nice or care about user experience, but solely because it's actually contractually compulsory.

Some companies get away with the fact that nobody will sue them, for exemple Apple removed some old apps from it's appstore meaning people who bought them couldn't download them again, BUT anyone owning the app (the licence of access/use) can ask for a link to a copy of the .ipa and it's still the case, again not because Apple are nice but this is their way of providing a legal cover/solution to a compulsory contractual aspect of people buying apps even if they decided to remove them on the store.

 

[Ganado]

If they came into your house and revoked games you had paid for and no longer able to hell yes. This is literally what steam has done in this situation, banning him from multiplayer community etc fine I understand that. Revoking game access? That is NOT LEGAL. TOS mean absolute shit in the real world and steam would be laughed out of 90% of the worlds courts pointing to it.

Sadly OP if this ever happens in the future tell them you live in Australia and contact the ACCC. I stopped using steam years ago, VALVE as a company is one of the most cancerous in gaming.

Wait, just so that we are on the same page, it's ok for Microsoft and Sony because they don't delete the content on the box? But if the console breaks you still have to buy it again to download it but that's ok?

I totally agree that it's awful of them to close down the account just because he sent in so many support requests, but I stand by Valve regarding the Community Ban.

 

[Ganado]

Sorry for doublepost;

In civilised countries however, the fact that products (licences) you buy are locked behind a service, makes it compulsory for the company to still provide access to content you own or provide other solutions like downloading a copy of data.

Once again, small whataboutism, but Sony and Microsoft both removes all access to the content.

Microsoft: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/legal/codeofconduct
UPON RECEIVING A PERMANENT SUSPENSION, YOU FORFEIT ALL CONTENT LICENSES, GOLD MEMBERSHIP TIME, AND MICROSOFT ACCOUNT BALANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUSPENDED ACCOUNT.

Sony; https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/g...g/banned-and-suspended-consoles-and-accounts/
If your account has been banned you no longer have access to content, subscriptions or trophies associated with the account. You will not receive refunds for any content or subscriptions that are active at the time of the ban. This is in line with the SEN Terms of Service.

And while I can't be arsed to look up Nintendo, I read that people that modified their Switches got their account banned with no access to the eShop.

It's all the same shit, really.

 

[Blam]

And while I can't be arsed to look up Nintendo, I read that people that modified their Switches got their account banned with no access to the eShop.

still can update their games tho.

That is NOT LEGAL. TOS mean absolute shit in the real world and steam would be laughed out of 90% of the worlds courts pointing to it.

eh no you're entitled to read all of it, because it's legally binding as much as you wanna say no no no it's not. It really is. You signed it, and it's your fault that you got banned.

 

[LucidFeuer]

Sorry for doublepost;

Once again, small whataboutism, but Sony and Microsoft both removes all access to the content.

Microsoft: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/legal/codeofconduct
UPON RECEIVING A PERMANENT SUSPENSION, YOU FORFEIT ALL CONTENT LICENSES, GOLD MEMBERSHIP TIME, AND MICROSOFT ACCOUNT BALANCES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SUSPENDED ACCOUNT.

Sony; https://www.playstation.com/en-gb/g...g/banned-and-suspended-consoles-and-accounts/
If your account has been banned you no longer have access to content, subscriptions or trophies associated with the account. You will not receive refunds for any content or subscriptions that are active at the time of the ban. This is in line with the SEN Terms of Service.

And while I can't be arsed to look up Nintendo, I read that people that modified their Switches got their account banned with no access to the eShop.

It's all the same shit, really.

Again, outside of dumbistan IT DOESN'T MATTER. If I make you sign an EULA saying I can rape your child I conclude that it makes it legal for you? These are companies contract terms NOT LAW which it never supercedes. So sure, they can try suspending your account but this doesn't stand in any court trial or cases, which most people simply do not go through.

The actual legal arguments in court get more complicated, but it's a 100% win as far as purchases you own goes, nobody can steal it from you under any circumstance, but companies have work-arounds to provide access to it even with an active ban like I mentioned above for Steam or Apple.

 

[Ganado]

still can update their games tho.

Until the device breaks I guess?

Again, outside of dumbistan IT DOESN'T MATTER. If I make you sign an EULA saying I can rape your child I conclude that it makes it legal for you? These are companies contract terms NOT LAW which it never supercedes. So sure, they can try suspending your account but this doesn't stand in any court trial or cases, which most people simply do not go through.

The actual legal arguments in court get more complicated, but it's a 100% win as far as purchases you own goes, nobody can steal it from you under any circumstance, but companies have work-arounds to provide access to it even with an active ban like I mentioned above for Steam or Apple.

I know that the law has the final say, but could you give a example on someone that got permanently suspended on either platform and got it overturned by court? Because if what you say is right, I can go online and spew whatever bs to everyone and when I get banned I can go to court since they'd block access to my games?

 

[DynamiteCop!]

You must live in dumbistan, you don't have nor deserve any rights. I'm talking about people living in normal/civilised country where the same mercantile laws have applied for 400 years: NOBODY has a right to steal back what you bought with your money, period, no workarounds.

It's not theft, it's the revocation of subscription access and licenses for repeated terms of service violations all in the face of multiple warnings.

All of this is perfectly legal, it's a contractual. When you agree to their terms of service whether you like it or not you are legally bound.

 

[LucidFeuer]

It's not theft, it's the revocation of subscription access and licenses for repeated terms of service violations all in the face of multiple warnings.

All of this is perfectly legal, it's a contractual. When you agree to their terms of service whether you like it or not you are legally bound.

You must be from dumbistan. Thank god I'm from Europe. If you buy a car, and commit even a misdemeanour, NOBODY has the right to take back the car from you, not even a court that can only prevent you from using a car for X times for grave accident. If you buy a dvd or cd, and copy it, you could be condemn for illegal copy but NOBODY has a right to go to your home and take it back to you.

And since when you buy a dvd you're not buying the object (because an empty object is worthless, it's the content that has value), and you're not buying the content itself either because you can't copy, modify or steal assets (and even then it only applies outside of personal use), you're buying a licence of unlimited access and use of a copy, buying as in 400 year old mercantile laws that dictate that what you buy with YOUR money is YOURS, period, and the 200 years old intellectual property law dictate that when buying a media, art, information etc...the usage you buy is YOURS.

Is it that difficult to understand or would you let your wife be raped if it was "contractual" since you seem to be completely lobotomised by corporate PR instead of knowing the basic institutions of rights?

 

[LucidFeuer]

Until the device breaks I guess?

I know that the law has the final say, but could you give a example on someone that got permanently suspended on either platform and got it overturned by court? Because if what you say is right, I can go online and spew whatever bs to everyone and when I get banned I can go to court since they'd block access to my games?

Good question: again it all boils down to wether you live in dumbistan, in which case you have no citizen or consumer rights, meaning the case will either get dismissed upon arrangement of the company with the judge or most person won't bother to sue, which is why companies enact their TOS/EULA, and that's why most people you see complaining about being banned from accountd are american...

While in Europe (and pretty much anywhere civilised) law prevails over unlawful contracts or closes which is why...there's not ever been such a case, to the point where the question of being bared from accessing your wallet or content is not even a question, it goes even further, for example: https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2015/12/french-consumer-group-sues-for-right-to-resell-steam-games/

Also, if you spew bs to everyone, they have every right to ban you from all functionalities that are not related to accessing your purchases or wallet (forums for exemple) unless said functions are either critical/part of fore-mentioned usage or simply paid for. For short: buying ANYTHING is a contract of which the root laws and rights are seated way deeper than most TOS/EULAS.

Now remember that it doesn't mean what companies do in either dumbistan or Europe is legal but that 1. most people won't sue them, and that's why most related affairs are class-actions 2. there are many ways and details to deal or countervene on bans, for exemple if you were to get banned from Netflix mid-month after paying subscription, the only thing arguable would be about a refund of said subscription but they still could ban you since you don't own licence to contents but only temporary monthly access to a service. Same works with Xbox Live or PSN, but they can in no case, at least outside the US, steal your accounts money and purchases.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

You must be from dumbistan. Thank god I'm from Europe. If you buy a car, and commit even a misdemeanour, NOBODY has the right to take back the car from you, not even a court that can only prevent you from using a car for X times for grave accident. If you buy a dvd or cd, and copy it, you could be condemn for illegal copy but NOBODY has a right to go to your home and take it back to you.

And since when you buy a dvd you're not buying the object (because an empty object is worthless, it's the content that has value), and you're not buying the content itself either because you can't copy, modify or steal assets (and even then it only applies outside of personal use), you're buying a licence of unlimited access and use of a copy, buying as in 400 year old mercantile laws that dictate that what you buy with YOUR money is YOURS, period, and the 200 years old intellectual property law dictate that when buying a media, art, information etc...the usage you buy is YOURS.

Is it that difficult to understand or would you let your wife be raped if it was "contractual" since you seem to be completely lobotomised by corporate PR instead of knowing the basic institutions of rights?

Do you think trying to insult people is going to help your case or something? Nothing you're saying has any basis Europe or not.

You're not being sold a license, you have no title or ownership, subscriptions are being licensed to you. I'm not here to debate anything with you because you have no legal or moral high ground. You're paying money to access a license to use products and services, not to own products and services.

Educate yourself.

 

[diablos991]

I agree with the ban.
You knew what you were getting into.

 

[LucidFeuer]

Do you think trying to insult people is going to help your case or something? Nothing you're saying has any basis Europe or not.

You're not being sold a license, you have no title or ownership, subscriptions are being licensed to you. I'm not here to debate anything with you because you have no legal or moral high ground. You're paying money to access a license to use products and services, not to own products and services.

Educate yourself.

I'm not insulting anyone, the context and meaning is part of the argument.

I mentioned very simple examples, the underlaying basic legal working of everything you buy, and you're replying not only besides the point but with grossly false statement: whether you buy a car or a book you're not being licensed a subscription...you're either a paid PR working for a company or a someone suffering the stooge syndrome.

 

[DynamiteCop!]

I'm not insulting anyone, the context and meaning is part of the argument.

I mentioned very simple examples, the underlaying basic legal working of everything you buy, and you're replying not only besides the point but with grossly false statement: whether you buy a car or a book you're not being licensed a subscription...you're either a paid PR working for a company or a someone suffering the stooge syndrome.

But you are by constantly referring to people not from Europe as being from "dumbistan" which is pure irony as you're the only one who has no idea what he's talking about.

Is this clear enough for you? You're not being sold anything, you don't own anything.

A. General Content and Services License

Steam and your Subscription(s) require the automatic download and installation of Content and Services onto your computer. Valve hereby grants, and you accept, a non-exclusive license and right, to use the Content and Services for your personal, non-commercial use (except where commercial use is expressly allowed herein or in the applicable Subscription Terms). This license ends upon termination of (a) this Agreement or (b) a Subscription that includes the license. The Content and Services are licensed, not sold. Your license confers no title or ownership in the Content and Services. To make use of the Content and Services, you must have a Steam Account and you may be required to be running the Steam client and maintaining a connection to the Internet.

 

[Hotel Security]

This is a very clear warning to me with the consequences properly laid out, why in seven hells would you ignore it?

Yeah, if a company that has 100% control of your account (because it's free) tells you not to do something and then you go ahead and do it, it's hard to point fingers over the consequences. They couldn't have been more clear in that email and it's frankly a lot more clear than most companies out there. Facebook disabled and deleted my account and refused to even tell me why. Steam doesn't even have to give you a reason OR a warning and were nice enough to do both.

Of course, the whole "he can't access his games anymore" thing, whether it's true or not, is exactly why I try to avoid services like Steam anyway. Why let some company have 100% control of your ability to play a game if you don't have to give it? If I can get a game on my PC by installing it myself and avoiding Steam, then I do it. I've only played three games in my Steam account since 2012 and those were games that were completely unavailable anywhere else.

 

[Kaby]

Is this clear enough for you? You're not being sold anything, you don't own anything.

Steam have bunch of the Steam Support articles like "How to buy a game" and so on:

And also profiles showcases like "Games Owned", "Games purchased", "DLC Owned" and so on.

 

[Kaby]

Also: https://steamcommunity.com/id/Kaby/badges/13

 

[PhoenixTank]

Steam have bunch of the Steam Support articles like "How to buy a game" and so on:
And also profiles showcases like "Games Owned", "Games purchased", "DLC Owned" and so on.

Right, but this is why it is called the "fine print": It supersedes everything else. I guess you could try to argue false advertising? I wouldn't expect much to come of that. That fine print did make me nervous when I signed up a decade ago. Starting to read this thread made me a little feel nervous again, but I'm not worried about Valve. These days I'd hope I could recognise, myself, when to stop digging the hole or whether I'm even in a hole. Very easy to get attached and hold onto hope for something you hold dear.

My condolences - treat it as a learning experience.