RPS article here: http://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2012/07/03/crikey-eu-rules-you-can-resell-downloaded-games/
Court of Justice Press Release here: http://curia.europa.eu/jcms/upload/docs/application/pdf/2012-07/cp120094en.pdf
Hm. I love Steam, and I don't want the EU to mess this up. A game bought from Steam is way more than merely a product. They promise me to keep my game updated and make it downloadable anywhere forever.
And I don't know how this is going to work practically. Why would I prefer a new copy over a used copy? A used physical copy might be damaged and involves certain risks, but a used digital copy is exactly the same. Will Steam integrate some kind of auction house, or will they create a special license-file that we can trade? If we can buy each other's old games, used games will always be cheaper than new games, and nobody will buy new games until all used games are sold out. We could also sell our license back to Steam, but this means Steam can set the price. They could just set the price incredibly low, essentially making this ruling worthless.
Personally, on the short term, I might benefit a little from this ruling, but if Steam limits the length of the service/raises it's prices/limits the amount of installs/downloads due to this.... I'm gonna be angry. This ruling essentially gives us better services: we can gain money for our old games, we can buy used games, and games become more like tradable licenses than merely an agreement between Steam and me. But I can't just go Steam and demand better services: they can easily come with new restrictions or higher prices. And then the EU will fight back with more rules and Steam comes with new restrictions and then they will leave the Sov European Union and hurray.
So, what is your opinion?