Geo-locking is the current bane for consuming digital content today as it keeps up artificial borders that hold back releases and outright prevents others. The European Commission is now looking at legislation to end it.
What does this mean? It could signal the demise of big price differences across regions, as well as their launch dates. Re-directing users to ‘local stores’ with ‘local pricing’ would be a big no-no.
In video game terms this will potentially have big consequences for those who like to price gouge. While the rise of the digital marketplace has been a transformation for our day-to-day purchasing habits, the outdated practices of physical retail are keeping it from truly breaking free.
”Let us do away with all those fences and walls that block us online. People must be able to freely go across borders online just as they do offline. Innovative businesses must be helped to grow across the EU, not remain locked into their home market,” said Andrus Ansip, VP for the Digital Single Market.
”This will be an uphill struggle all the way, but we need an ambitious start. Europe should benefit fully from the digital age: better services, more participation and new jobs.”
”Europe cannot be at the forefront of the digital revolution with a patchwork of 28 different rules for telecommunications services, copyright, IT security and data protection. We need a European market, which allows new business models to flourish, start-ups to grow and the industry to take advantage of the internet of things,” added Günther H. Oettinger, Commissioner for the Digital Economy and Society.
The European Commission intends to tackle geo-locking, archaic copyright laws and simplifying VAT charges. They will release a more comprehensive plan of action this May.
In the UK, the PC version of Batman: Arkham Knight is only available digitally, so these kinds of changes could have far-reaching effects, and hopefully for the better. Valve and other digital platform owners are already being pressured to permit digital reselling and refunds to consumers.
Check out the full Digital Single Market Strategy announcement for more details.
