Valve has once again updated its Steam Subscriber Agreement. As usual, it adds a laundry list of mundane things that you wouldn’t bother reading about – but there is now one interesting clause to be found in the updated agreement (via Gamasutra); even users are now subject to disclosure. According to the new agreement, users are now required to “clearly indicate the source” when they use any of Steam service’s to “promote or endorse a product, service or event” in exchange for…well, anything; money, free games, or another inventives.
This change comes after changes made last year to Steam’s Curator’s programme requiring that those making list of recommended games disclosed any sort of back-room greased palms, bringing the service in line with the US’ Federal Trade Commission regulations that require disclosure regarding what could be seen as potential conflicts of interest. These sorts of rules have always pertained to traditional media outlets, but they’re now increasingly being applied to YouTube and its growing bevy of stars. Many consumers feel that YouTubers are more trustworthy, but it turns out that a number of them haven’t been quite as above board as they’d hoped.
“Generally speaking, if an advertiser or a marketer is paying someone to write favorable reviews, the reviewer needs to disclose that,” Mary Engle, associate director for Advertising Practices at the FTC, said to Gamasutra, “and that disclosure should be clear and conspicuous, and should be upfront and easy to see where the viewer won’t miss it.”
The UK’s Advertising Standards Authority agrees on that subject.
“There is nothing wrong with vloggers entering into a commercial relationship, they just have to be up front with their viewers about that fact,” said Hannah Law, press and public affairs assistant for the ASA. “This means making a distinction between ads and editorial-based content so viewers can make an informed choice.”
And now, even users are subject to those same sorts of disclosure. Yes, even you. And that’s okay.
Last Updated: March 18, 2015
Blood Emperor Trevor
March 18, 2015 at 08:07
Good.
Axon1988
March 18, 2015 at 08:09
Good.
Admiral Chief
March 18, 2015 at 08:11
Both? Both!
ReaperOfSquirrels
March 18, 2015 at 08:26
Agreed
Axon1988
March 18, 2015 at 09:11
Good.
Ranting Raptor
March 18, 2015 at 08:43
Good
Pariah
March 18, 2015 at 08:46
You suck oranges! 7 of them!
*Disclaimer: I was paid to say that by an anonymous donor*.
Ranting Raptor
March 18, 2015 at 08:49
lol
Ross Woofels Mason
March 18, 2015 at 09:04
And if no-one is paying you and you just want to write a good review for a game you liked? Seems a tad hard to police this honestly.
Like how is steam going to prove that skippy’s review for turtle explosions 5 was not paid for if he is just a user and writing a review on steam? Unless I am missing something here.
Axon1988
March 18, 2015 at 09:13
Obviously Skippy would not have as large a community following as someone who does it professionally. Also why would a company ‘pay’ skippy when he is just a consumer of goods?
Ross Woofels Mason
March 18, 2015 at 14:46
This is my point though, why are putting this on users now? I dont get it. Unless companies are going and paying 50 different skippy’s to write good reviews about their games in steam I don’t see what the point in users having to disclose anything because they are probably just writing a good review for enjoying the game?
It seems a-bit ridiculous to try and police such a thing, unless companies really are paying for good reviews in the user review section =p
Axon1988
March 18, 2015 at 14:49
This just gave me a thought. Some developers of certain games have reviewed their own games and given it a 10/10 style rating. So maybe it could be more related to this? But Valve is trying to do the right thing here somehow?
Ross Woofels Mason
March 19, 2015 at 09:59
Yeah that makes sense.
It just seems like a crazy thing to try and police even if they implement it. Suppose though it’s more to cover their own ass in any legal dispute.
Axon1988
March 19, 2015 at 10:09
And to try and make the more moral players happy I suppose.
Deceased
March 18, 2015 at 10:58
Wait… is skippy’s reviews good? Also, how’s turtle explosions 5? Think I’ma add it to the backlog 😐
Deceased
March 18, 2015 at 10:58
Wait… is skippy’s reviews good? Also, how’s turtle explosions 5? Think I’ma add it to the backlog 😐
Gideon Venter
March 18, 2015 at 11:12
Why’s everyone coming down on Skippy? He’s just trying to break into the review scene. Give Skippy a break ;P
Drium Yrvak
March 23, 2015 at 10:43
WTFast, a new product on Steam, just sent a mass email to all of its users asking them to leave positive reviews in exchange for paid subscription time as compensation, and there’s a contest where the ten best reviews get even more subscription time. See the email here: http://puu.sh/gLX3B/d6f6d42810.png
Is there anything in the TOS that would make this sort of stuff unacceptable, you think?