Consumer Rights Wiki - User contributions [en]

Storefront shutdown

2025-09-27T01:44:43Z

ZanderKeen: /* Leap Frog / Leapster Connect (2008-2021) */ Grammar improvements and made it easier to read.

'''Digital storefront shutdowns''', or the practice of discontinuing online storefronts for consoles and other devices, has become increasingly common. This often results in the removal of games exclusive to these platforms, such as ''Pokémon Picross'' for the Nintendo 3DS, ''Battlezone'' for the Xbox 360, and the PlayStation Portable (PSP) remasters of classic ''Final Fantasy'' titles. These shutdowns leave many games inaccessible to new users, raising concerns over digital preservation and the long-term viable usage of digital-only content. Especially as more recent closures mean that access to games that are reliant on servers end up being affected by these storefront closures.

==Digital storefront shutdowns==

===Wii Shop Channel (2006–2019)===
The '''Wii Shop Channel''', launched in 2006, allowed Nintendo Wii users to purchase and download a variety of content, including Virtual Console games, WiiWare titles, and other downloadable content. Users could load their accounts with '''Wii Points,''' a virtual currency, to make purchases. This system offered access to a diverse library of classic games and indie releases, however the service was officially shut down in 2019, and with it, many of the games and content became inaccessible.

===Wii U/3DS eShops (2012–2023)===
Launched in November 2012, the [[Nintendo]] eShop for Wii U and 3DS was [[Nintendo|Nintendo's]] 2nd major digital storefront. The shutdown of this storefront in April 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wii U & Nintendo 3DS eShop Discontinuation Q&A |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-%26-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation-q%26a |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Customer Support}}</ref> was directly connected to online gameplay services also getting shut down for titles such as Super Mario Maker and Splatoon. Roughly 1.5TB worth of games were delisted from the storefronts,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=7 Mar 2023 |title=Wii U and 3DS eShops close down later today, risking hundreds of unique games |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/03/todays-the-last-day-to-buy-eshop-games-for-the-wii-u-and-3ds/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> and preservation efforts were hampered through [[Nintendo|Nintendo's]] restrictions,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=The Completionist |date=18 Mar 2023 |title=I bought EVERY Nintendo Wii U & 3DS game before the Nintendo eShop closes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujHUMG0Uovs |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> such as the $250 limit for account balance at any given time, no matter if it is via gift card or physical funds being transferred to the balance. The Completionist's video covering the event had also documented a limit for how many games can be downloaded at once, and account lockdowns if you redeem $1000 in eShop cards within a 24hr period,<ref name=":0" /> among several other anti-consumer problems that hampered the efforts of preservation.

Additionally, the VirtualConsole<ref>{{Cite web |title=Topic: virtual console |url=https://arstechnica.com/tag/virtual-console/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> (VC) series, what was the only legitimate way to purchase new copies of vintage games for multiple [[Nintendo]] platforms ranging from the NES and GameBoy, to the Nintendo DS and N64, was among the litany of titles erased from servers, forcing consumers that missed out on purchasing these titles to only be capable of paying for a [[Nintendo Switch Online]] (NSO) subscription to play retro Nintendo games, which they wouldn't own, and various VC releases have remained to not be re-released on NSO.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=26 Mar 2023 |title=Nintendo’s Wii U and 3DS eShops shut down today |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/26/23657431/wii-u-nintendo-3ds-eshops-shut-down |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref>

===PlayStation Portable Storefront (2008–2021)===
Started in October 2008, the PSP storefront was the first digital storefront established for portable consoles. Despite fan backlash against [[Sony|Sony's]] attempts<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Gartenberg |first=Chaim |date=19 Apr 2021 |title=Sony admits it made ‘wrong decision’ and will keep PS3, Vita stores open |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/19/22392126/sony-ps3-ps-vita-stores-open-backtrack-psp-july-2nd-mistake |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> to shut down the PS3 and PSVita storefronts alongside this shutdown,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Sammy |date=29 Mar 2021 |title=Sony Confirms PS3, PS Vita, PSP Store Closures, Downloads Will Be Retained |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2021/03/sony_confirms_ps3_ps_vita_psp_store_closures_downloads_will_be_retained |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=PushSquare}}</ref> it was unfortunately still discontinued. Regardless if the storefront shut down, accessibility was dubious at best, since users' only methods to connect PSPs to the internet required either running a mobile hotspot without security enabled, or jury rigging older routers<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Astral_Strider |title=For anyone who still want to connect their PSP to internet in the present time, this is my workaround: |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/PSP/comments/mwk41s/for_anyone_who_still_want_to_connect_their_psp_to/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> just to function, and regardless, it was extremely risky for consumers to safely use their consoles while connected online due to the vulnerabilities caused by the PSP's lack of support for most modern network security protocols.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wash1ng_machine |title=is it still possible to connect a psp to the internet? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/PSP/comments/xdqk0a/is_it_still_possible_to_connect_a_psp_to_the/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Additionally, a lack of development for the web browser of the console made accessing the internet progressively more difficult and slow since its final update with version 2.70<ref>{{Cite web |title=Webbrowser |url=https://www.psdevwiki.com/psp/index.php/Webbrowser |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=www.psdevwiki.com}}</ref> in 2006, having 15 years of zero support between launch and shutdown, thus requiring hacked consoles to reliably surf the internet with community-maintained browsers.

===Xbox 360 Marketplace (2005–2024)===
In November 2005, the Xbox 360 Marketplace was [[Microsoft]]'s first digital storefront for their consoles. Nearly 20 years later, it was shut down,<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Dave |date=17 Aug 2023 |title=The Xbox 360 Store Will Close July 2024, But You Can Keep Playing Your Favorite Games |url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/17/xbox-360-store-will-close-july-2024/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=Xbox Wire}}</ref> although unlike most other storefront closures, users could still reinstall games they purchased as long as publishers did not have their games delisted prior to the shutdown or later, so titles such as World Gone Sour published by [[Capcom]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@ShawnS |date=27 Apr 2016 |title=World Gone Sour |url=https://delistedgames.com/world-gone-sour/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> or Assassin's Creed 3 published by [[Ubisoft]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=@ShawnS |date=30 Nov 2023 |title=Assassin’s Creed III |url=https://delistedgames.com/assassins-creed-iii/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> are entirely unplayable<ref name=":1" />  unless consumers happened to still have had the game installed to their consoles, or bought a disc if the title received an official physical release.

===Stadia (2019–2023)===
Launched in November 2019, Stadia was the first cloud gaming service with a storefront. Its storefront was abruptly shut down for users in September 2022 without notice, and the entire service shuttered in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Joshua |date=30 Sep 2022 |title=Google Stadia's Storefront Has Already Been Shut Down |url=https://www.thegamer.com/google-stadias-storefront-already-shut-down/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=TheGamer}}</ref> As the shutdown of the service meant users who made purchases on the platform could not play the products they paid for, Google refunded purchases of both hardware and software for the platform,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradshaw |first=Kyle |date=29 Sep 2022 |title=Google Stadia is shutting down in January, all purchases will be refunded |url=https://9to5google.com/2022/09/29/google-stadia-shutting-down/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=9to5google.com}}</ref> however many platform-exclusive titles<ref>{{Cite web |last=@SFBTom |date=29 Sep 2022 |title=Tangle Tower was due to launch on Stadia in 2 days time, and this article was the first I heard about it shutting down 😢 |url=https://x.com/SFBTom/status/1575558078367690752 |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> were never re-released,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoon |first=Ben |date=22 Dec 2022 |title=What’s the plan for Stadia exclusive games? Here’s what we know so far |url=https://9to5google.com/2022/12/22/stadia-exclusive-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=9to5google.com}}</ref> so users couldn't reliably replace the software that they paid for. 

===Leap Frog / Leapster Connect (2008-2021)===
As of September 30 2021, LeapFrog officially discontinued and shut down the Leapster Connect service <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Leapster Explorer and LeapsterGS |url=https://www.leapfrog.com/en-us/support/appmessage |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618141808/https://www.leapfrog.com/en-us/support/appmessage |archive-date=2025-06-18}}</ref>. Because of this, the devices can no longer reach the storefront to download purchased games or use the features that were advertised. Models such as (but not limited to) the Leapster, Leapster Explorer, My Own Story Time Pad, My Own Leaptop, Crammer, Didj, and Leapster 2 still function offline with any content that was already stored on them. However, any games that were bought but not downloaded to the device before the shutdown are now inaccessible. The software was also necessary for connecting the device to a PC, managing its content, transferring user files, and sending messages to and from your child. <ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-13 |title=Do I need to connect My Own Leaptop to the computer to use it? |url=https://leapfrog.happyfox.com/kb/article/138-2003/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250810103234/https://leapfrog.happyfox.com/kb/article/138-2003/ |archive-date=2025-08-10}}</ref>.

==Attempted storefront shutdowns==

===PlayStation 3/PSVita storefronts===
In 2021, Sony attempted to shut down the storefronts of 3 of their legacy consoles, the PSP, PSVita, and PS3.<ref name=":3" /> Unlike the PSP however, backlash from the community<ref name=":2" /> made it so consumers currently remain capable of purchasing and downloading new digital copies of PS3 titles, so long as the release has not been removed from the platform storefront. The PS3 is to be the final home console of the [[wikipedia:Seventh_generation_of_video_game_consoles|7th console generation]] and the PSVita as the expected final portable console of the [[wikipedia:Eighth_generation_of_video_game_consoles|8th console generation]] to retain access to its manufacturer's storefronts. 

==References==
<references />
[[category:Theme]]

Storefront shutdown

2025-09-27T01:00:16Z

ZanderKeen: /* Digital storefront shutdowns */ Added Leap Frog Connect storefront shutdown details

'''Digital storefront shutdowns''', or the practice of discontinuing online storefronts for consoles and other devices, has become increasingly common. This often results in the removal of games exclusive to these platforms, such as ''Pokémon Picross'' for the Nintendo 3DS, ''Battlezone'' for the Xbox 360, and the PlayStation Portable (PSP) remasters of classic ''Final Fantasy'' titles. These shutdowns leave many games inaccessible to new users, raising concerns over digital preservation and the long-term viable usage of digital-only content. Especially as more recent closures mean that access to games that are reliant on servers end up being affected by these storefront closures.

==Digital storefront shutdowns==

===Wii Shop Channel (2006–2019)===
The '''Wii Shop Channel''', launched in 2006, allowed Nintendo Wii users to purchase and download a variety of content, including Virtual Console games, WiiWare titles, and other downloadable content. Users could load their accounts with '''Wii Points,''' a virtual currency, to make purchases. This system offered access to a diverse library of classic games and indie releases, however the service was officially shut down in 2019, and with it, many of the games and content became inaccessible.

===Wii U/3DS eShops (2012–2023)===
Launched in November 2012, the [[Nintendo]] eShop for Wii U and 3DS was [[Nintendo|Nintendo's]] 2nd major digital storefront. The shutdown of this storefront in April 2023<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wii U & Nintendo 3DS eShop Discontinuation Q&A |url=https://en-americas-support.nintendo.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/57847/~/wii-u-%26-nintendo-3ds-eshop-discontinuation-q%26a |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=Nintendo Customer Support}}</ref> was directly connected to online gameplay services also getting shut down for titles such as Super Mario Maker and Splatoon. Roughly 1.5TB worth of games were delisted from the storefronts,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Purdy |first=Kevin |date=7 Mar 2023 |title=Wii U and 3DS eShops close down later today, risking hundreds of unique games |url=https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2023/03/todays-the-last-day-to-buy-eshop-games-for-the-wii-u-and-3ds/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> and preservation efforts were hampered through [[Nintendo|Nintendo's]] restrictions,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=The Completionist |date=18 Mar 2023 |title=I bought EVERY Nintendo Wii U & 3DS game before the Nintendo eShop closes |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujHUMG0Uovs |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> such as the $250 limit for account balance at any given time, no matter if it is via gift card or physical funds being transferred to the balance. The Completionist's video covering the event had also documented a limit for how many games can be downloaded at once, and account lockdowns if you redeem $1000 in eShop cards within a 24hr period,<ref name=":0" /> among several other anti-consumer problems that hampered the efforts of preservation.

Additionally, the VirtualConsole<ref>{{Cite web |title=Topic: virtual console |url=https://arstechnica.com/tag/virtual-console/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=ArsTechnica}}</ref> (VC) series, what was the only legitimate way to purchase new copies of vintage games for multiple [[Nintendo]] platforms ranging from the NES and GameBoy, to the Nintendo DS and N64, was among the litany of titles erased from servers, forcing consumers that missed out on purchasing these titles to only be capable of paying for a [[Nintendo Switch Online]] (NSO) subscription to play retro Nintendo games, which they wouldn't own, and various VC releases have remained to not be re-released on NSO.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roth |first=Emma |date=26 Mar 2023 |title=Nintendo’s Wii U and 3DS eShops shut down today |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/3/26/23657431/wii-u-nintendo-3ds-eshops-shut-down |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref>

===PlayStation Portable Storefront (2008–2021)===
Started in October 2008, the PSP storefront was the first digital storefront established for portable consoles. Despite fan backlash against [[Sony|Sony's]] attempts<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |last=Gartenberg |first=Chaim |date=19 Apr 2021 |title=Sony admits it made ‘wrong decision’ and will keep PS3, Vita stores open |url=https://www.theverge.com/2021/4/19/22392126/sony-ps3-ps-vita-stores-open-backtrack-psp-july-2nd-mistake |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> to shut down the PS3 and PSVita storefronts alongside this shutdown,<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |last=Barker |first=Sammy |date=29 Mar 2021 |title=Sony Confirms PS3, PS Vita, PSP Store Closures, Downloads Will Be Retained |url=https://www.pushsquare.com/news/2021/03/sony_confirms_ps3_ps_vita_psp_store_closures_downloads_will_be_retained |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=PushSquare}}</ref> it was unfortunately still discontinued. Regardless if the storefront shut down, accessibility was dubious at best, since users' only methods to connect PSPs to the internet required either running a mobile hotspot without security enabled, or jury rigging older routers<ref>{{Cite web |last=@Astral_Strider |title=For anyone who still want to connect their PSP to internet in the present time, this is my workaround: |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/PSP/comments/mwk41s/for_anyone_who_still_want_to_connect_their_psp_to/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> just to function, and regardless, it was extremely risky for consumers to safely use their consoles while connected online due to the vulnerabilities caused by the PSP's lack of support for most modern network security protocols.<ref>{{Cite web |last=@wash1ng_machine |title=is it still possible to connect a psp to the internet? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/PSP/comments/xdqk0a/is_it_still_possible_to_connect_a_psp_to_the/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Additionally, a lack of development for the web browser of the console made accessing the internet progressively more difficult and slow since its final update with version 2.70<ref>{{Cite web |title=Webbrowser |url=https://www.psdevwiki.com/psp/index.php/Webbrowser |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=www.psdevwiki.com}}</ref> in 2006, having 15 years of zero support between launch and shutdown, thus requiring hacked consoles to reliably surf the internet with community-maintained browsers.

===Xbox 360 Marketplace (2005–2024)===
In November 2005, the Xbox 360 Marketplace was [[Microsoft]]'s first digital storefront for their consoles. Nearly 20 years later, it was shut down,<ref>{{Cite web |last=McCarthy |first=Dave |date=17 Aug 2023 |title=The Xbox 360 Store Will Close July 2024, But You Can Keep Playing Your Favorite Games |url=https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2023/08/17/xbox-360-store-will-close-july-2024/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=Xbox Wire}}</ref> although unlike most other storefront closures, users could still reinstall games they purchased as long as publishers did not have their games delisted prior to the shutdown or later, so titles such as World Gone Sour published by [[Capcom]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@ShawnS |date=27 Apr 2016 |title=World Gone Sour |url=https://delistedgames.com/world-gone-sour/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> or Assassin's Creed 3 published by [[Ubisoft]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=@ShawnS |date=30 Nov 2023 |title=Assassin’s Creed III |url=https://delistedgames.com/assassins-creed-iii/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=Delisted Games}}</ref> are entirely unplayable<ref name=":1" />  unless consumers happened to still have had the game installed to their consoles, or bought a disc if the title received an official physical release.

===Stadia (2019–2023)===
Launched in November 2019, Stadia was the first cloud gaming service with a storefront. Its storefront was abruptly shut down for users in September 2022 without notice, and the entire service shuttered in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Robertson |first=Joshua |date=30 Sep 2022 |title=Google Stadia's Storefront Has Already Been Shut Down |url=https://www.thegamer.com/google-stadias-storefront-already-shut-down/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=TheGamer}}</ref> As the shutdown of the service meant users who made purchases on the platform could not play the products they paid for, Google refunded purchases of both hardware and software for the platform,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bradshaw |first=Kyle |date=29 Sep 2022 |title=Google Stadia is shutting down in January, all purchases will be refunded |url=https://9to5google.com/2022/09/29/google-stadia-shutting-down/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=9to5google.com}}</ref> however many platform-exclusive titles<ref>{{Cite web |last=@SFBTom |date=29 Sep 2022 |title=Tangle Tower was due to launch on Stadia in 2 days time, and this article was the first I heard about it shutting down 😢 |url=https://x.com/SFBTom/status/1575558078367690752 |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> were never re-released,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schoon |first=Ben |date=22 Dec 2022 |title=What’s the plan for Stadia exclusive games? Here’s what we know so far |url=https://9to5google.com/2022/12/22/stadia-exclusive-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=8 May 2025 |website=9to5google.com}}</ref> so users couldn't reliably replace the software that they paid for. 

=== Leap Frog / Leapster Connect (2008-2021) ===
As of September 30, 2021, the LeapFrog Leapster Connect software was discontinued and shut-down <ref>{{Cite web |date=2023-11-08 |title=Leapster Explorer and LeapsterGS |url=https://www.leapfrog.com/en-us/support/appmessage |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250618141808/https://www.leapfrog.com/en-us/support/appmessage |archive-date=2025-06-18}}</ref>. These devices are no longer able to connect to the storefront to access bought games and use advertised features. The devices such as (but not limited to) the Leapster, Leapster Explorer, My Own Story Time Pad, My Own Leaptop, Crammer, Didj & Leapster2 continue to work as-is offline with previously downloaded content however any titles purchased and not downloaded to the device itself prior to being discontinued are no longer accessible. The software was also required to connect the device to your PC and manage content on the device including access/transfer user content and sending messages to and from your child <ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-08-13 |title=Do I need to connect My Own Leaptop to the computer to use it? |url=https://leapfrog.happyfox.com/kb/article/138-2003/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250810103234/https://leapfrog.happyfox.com/kb/article/138-2003/ |archive-date=2025-08-10}}</ref>.

==Attempted storefront shutdowns==

===PlayStation 3/PSVita storefronts===
In 2021, Sony attempted to shut down the storefronts of 3 of their legacy consoles, the PSP, PSVita, and PS3.<ref name=":3" /> Unlike the PSP however, backlash from the community<ref name=":2" /> made it so consumers currently remain capable of purchasing and downloading new digital copies of PS3 titles, so long as the release has not been removed from the platform storefront. The PS3 is to be the final home console of the [[wikipedia:Seventh_generation_of_video_game_consoles|7th console generation]] and the PSVita as the expected final portable console of the [[wikipedia:Eighth_generation_of_video_game_consoles|8th console generation]] to retain access to its manufacturer's storefronts. 

==References==
<references />
[[category:Theme]]

ATSC 3.0

2025-08-06T01:14:46Z

ZanderKeen: /* Incidents */

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Release Year =2017
| Product Type =Television Transmission Protocol
| In Production =Yes
| Official Website =https://watchnextgentv.com/
| Logo =NextGenTVBug.png
}}

'''[[wikipedia:ATSC_3.0|ATSC 3.0]]''', also known as '''NextGenTV (in US) or TV 3.0 DTV+ (in Brazil)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decreto vai confirmar padrão ATSC e faixa de 300 MHz para a TV 3.0 |trans-title=Decree will confirm ATSC standard and 300 MHz band for TV 3.0 |url=https://telesintese.com.br/decreto-vai-confirmar-padrao-atsc-e-faixa-de-300-mhz-para-a-tv-3-0/ |website=Telesintese |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Globo inaugura primeira estação de TV 3.0 do Brasil e inicia testes com DTV+ |trans-title=Globo inaugurates Brazil's first TV 3.0 station and begins DTV+ tests |url=https://www.minhaoperadora.com.br/2025/06/globo-inaugura-primeira-estacao-de-tv-3-0-do-brasil-e-inicia-testes-com-dtv.html |website=Minha Operadora |language=pt-br}}</ref>''',''' is a television protocol for terrestrial (over the air) broadcasting. It promises to deliver over 4K resolution and 120 FPS broadcast television using modern standards like HEVC, HDR, Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H 3D audio, alongside better "interaction among the broadcasters and the users".

==Consumer impact summary==
NextGenTV has had privacy concerns over internet based viewer metrics/analytics and targeted advertising, voiced by FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balderston |first=Michael |date=29 Jan 2020 |title=Starks Warns of Potential Privacy, Data Issues With ATSC 3.0 |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/atsc3/starks-warns-of-potential-privacy-data-issues-with-atsc-3-0 |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=tvtech}}</ref> More importantly, NextGenTV marked the introduction of [[Digital rights management]] and encryption to freely available television airwaves.

The authority for encryption in ATSC 3.0 is called A3SA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paving the Way for Enhanced Security |url=https://a3sa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=A3SA}}</ref> According to a article on Techhive,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=28 Jul 2023 |title=NextGen TV’s DRM puts future of the over-the-air DVR in doubt |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2009693/nextgen-tv-drm-puts-future-of-the-over-the-air-dvr-in-doubt.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=TechHive}}</ref> restrictions that could be imposed by A3SA's DRM might include:

*Blocking or setting expiry dates on recordings
*Blocking remote access of tuners
*Always-on internet being required for viewing/streaming/playback
*Pairing recordings to the tuner it was recorded from
*"Blessing" devices that pass the A3SA's DRM certification and licensing program
The Techhive article also describes that implementation of DRM could increase the cost of tuners due to the required licensing and certification programs on vendors.

On certified devices, it was also discovered by Lon Seidman that tuner decryption certificates can expire after 10 to 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=30 Jan 2024 |title=ATSC 3 TV Tuners Have an Expiration Date, Slow Progress on Gateway Devices and More.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2024/01/30/atsc-3-tv-tuners-have-an-expiration-date-slow-progress-on-gateway-devices-and-more/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

==Incidents==
Many major US ATSC 3.0 pilot stations started encrypting their broadcasts in 2023,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=15 May 2023 |title=Broadcasters Roll Out Restrictive DRM Encryption on ATSC 3.0 Broadcasts |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/05/15/broadcasters-roll-out-restrictive-drm-encryption-on-atsc-3-0-broadcasts/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref> locking out users of all pre-certification ATSC 3.0 tuners without decryption support. This has led to some resource websites like [https://www.rabbitears.info/ rabbitears.info] to become concerned about their future providing information on channels due to encryption becoming more widespread. They warn the site may be unable to operate as the tools for analysis of channels become inoperable on encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ATSC 3.0 Encryption |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/static.php?name=atsc3_encryption |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=RabbitEars}}</ref>

In cases where encrypted channels were able to be decrypted using certified tuners, it has been reported an active internet connection is required to tune or switch between encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=3 Sep 2023 |title=The ADTH Nextgen TV Box Shows Us Just How Bad ATSC 3.0 Encryption Will Be.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/03/the-adth-nextgen-tv-box-shows-us-just-how-bad-atsc-3-0-encrpytion-will-be/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

LG has also encountered patent issues trying to incorporate tuners into their TVs, which resulted in a dispute with Constellation Design Inc. that ended ATSC 3.0 tuner support in new LG televisions as of September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=26 Sep 2023 |title=New LG Televisions Will Not Have ATSC 3 Tuners Due to Patent Dispute |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/26/new-lg-televisions-will-not-have-atsc-3-tuners-due-to-patent-dispute/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

SiliconDust of HDHomeRun has engaged in official correspondence with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to Pearl TV (ATSC 3.0) with regards to "Authorizing the Permissive Use of the “Next Generation” Broadcast Television Standard (GN Docket No. 16-142)"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-18 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (7-18-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107180407509394/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> pointing out Pearl TV is acting as a '''gatekeeper''' by deciding which tuners to allow and not allow even after being "certified" for NextGenTV ATSC 3.0 as well as making mention that strict '''exclusive use of (google) widevine''' prevents popular devices such as Roku, Xbox, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Windows, or Mac from ever accessing the encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-22 |title=Silicondust Response to Pearl Ex Parte Letter (7-22-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10722712322683/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> At which the two responded back and forth where Pearl TV attempted to make claim that SiliconDust is using a blacklisted chip. Pearl also made claim that SiliconDust must have a Widevine CDM license.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-25 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (Reply 7-25-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1072583827524/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> To which SiliconDust responded claiming Pearl continues to push false narratives. They point out they are "not required or expected to have the Level 1 CDM license described by Pearl" as well as stating that the "SoC part used in a video gateway device [the blacklisted chip], is not relevant in any way to viewers accessing ATSC 3.0 content."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-29 |title=SiliconDust Reply to 2nd Pearl |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107301849911610/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> In follow-up to this incident, Nicholas J Kelsey – President of Silicondust met with the FCC where he goes over in detail how the broadcast industry is attempting to use ATSC 3.0 DRM to illegally limit access to public airwaves, "The TV receiver market is being regulated by the private broadcast industry (a different industry)" by acting as gatekeeper, Stifling innovation, having "secret A3SA rules" as well as many other key points in relation to these issues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-01 |title=SiliconDust Ex Parte Letter re FCC meeting (7-31-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1080140138248/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> ''(*'''It should be noted that discussion in regards to the A3SA specifications and rules are forbidden from being referenced in the filings due to NDAs''').''

Pearl TV accuses SiliconDust HDHomeRun devices of using a chip manufactured by Chinese HiSilicon, which is blacklisted by the US government and uses that as their reasoning to not approve SiliconDust HDHomeRun for DRM certification suggests that any component from a blacklisted company violates the industry’s secret, non-disclosable rules concerning decryption<ref name=":1" />. However, the SiliconDust devices have FCC certification & approval for sale in the USA indicating broadcast networks are trying to regulate tuner devices despite private industry having no authority to do so. It is also worth noting, A3SA & Pearl's use of "Selectively enforcing this rule" is based on the fact that their own DRM certified device (Converter X1 by GTMedia (''A Chinese company'')) contains a similar chip that is also blacklisted by the US government. Moreover, GTMedia devices were shipped running an outdated Android OS with known security vulnerabilities and required side-loading of all apps due to the absence of the Google Play Store, further compromising user safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=2025-07-22 |title=Did TV Broadcasters Just Admit to Selectively Enforcing Their Own Encryption Rules? |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2025/07/22/did-tv-broadcasters-just-admit-to-selectively-enforcing-their-own-encryption-rules/ |url-status=live |website=Lon.TV Blog}}</ref>

==See also==

*[https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=atsc3 rabbitears.info page on ATSC 3.0, listing encrypted channels.]
*[https://blog.lon.tv/2023/07/10/the-fcc-responds-to-my-atsc-3-encryption-complaint-they-want-to-hear-from-you/ Lon Seidman Blogpost on the FCC response to ATSC DRM]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

ATSC 3.0

2025-08-06T01:10:47Z

ZanderKeen: Grammar improvements

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Release Year =2017
| Product Type =Television Transmission Protocol
| In Production =Yes
| Official Website =https://watchnextgentv.com/
| Logo =NextGenTVBug.png
}}

'''[[wikipedia:ATSC_3.0|ATSC 3.0]]''', also known as '''NextGenTV (in US) or TV 3.0 DTV+ (in Brazil)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decreto vai confirmar padrão ATSC e faixa de 300 MHz para a TV 3.0 |trans-title=Decree will confirm ATSC standard and 300 MHz band for TV 3.0 |url=https://telesintese.com.br/decreto-vai-confirmar-padrao-atsc-e-faixa-de-300-mhz-para-a-tv-3-0/ |website=Telesintese |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Globo inaugura primeira estação de TV 3.0 do Brasil e inicia testes com DTV+ |trans-title=Globo inaugurates Brazil's first TV 3.0 station and begins DTV+ tests |url=https://www.minhaoperadora.com.br/2025/06/globo-inaugura-primeira-estacao-de-tv-3-0-do-brasil-e-inicia-testes-com-dtv.html |website=Minha Operadora |language=pt-br}}</ref>''',''' is a television protocol for terrestrial (over the air) broadcasting. It promises to deliver over 4K resolution and 120 FPS broadcast television using modern standards like HEVC, HDR, Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H 3D audio, alongside better "interaction among the broadcasters and the users".

==Consumer impact summary==
NextGenTV has had privacy concerns over internet based viewer metrics/analytics and targeted advertising, voiced by FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balderston |first=Michael |date=29 Jan 2020 |title=Starks Warns of Potential Privacy, Data Issues With ATSC 3.0 |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/atsc3/starks-warns-of-potential-privacy-data-issues-with-atsc-3-0 |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=tvtech}}</ref> More importantly, NextGenTV marked the introduction of [[Digital rights management]] and encryption to freely available television airwaves.

The authority for encryption in ATSC 3.0 is called A3SA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paving the Way for Enhanced Security |url=https://a3sa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=A3SA}}</ref> According to a article on Techhive,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=28 Jul 2023 |title=NextGen TV’s DRM puts future of the over-the-air DVR in doubt |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2009693/nextgen-tv-drm-puts-future-of-the-over-the-air-dvr-in-doubt.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=TechHive}}</ref> restrictions that could be imposed by A3SA's DRM might include:

*Blocking or setting expiry dates on recordings
*Blocking remote access of tuners
*Always-on internet being required for viewing/streaming/playback
*Pairing recordings to the tuner it was recorded from
*"Blessing" devices that pass the A3SA's DRM certification and licensing program
The Techhive article also describes that implementation of DRM could increase the cost of tuners due to the required licensing and certification programs on vendors.

On certified devices, it was also discovered by Lon Seidman that tuner decryption certificates can expire after 10 to 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=30 Jan 2024 |title=ATSC 3 TV Tuners Have an Expiration Date, Slow Progress on Gateway Devices and More.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2024/01/30/atsc-3-tv-tuners-have-an-expiration-date-slow-progress-on-gateway-devices-and-more/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

==Incidents==
Many major US ATSC 3.0 pilot stations started encrypting their broadcasts in 2023,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=15 May 2023 |title=Broadcasters Roll Out Restrictive DRM Encryption on ATSC 3.0 Broadcasts |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/05/15/broadcasters-roll-out-restrictive-drm-encryption-on-atsc-3-0-broadcasts/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref> locking out users of all pre-certification ATSC 3.0 tuners without decryption support. This has led to some resource websites like [https://www.rabbitears.info/ rabbitears.info] to become concerned about their future providing information on channels due to encryption becoming more widespread. They warn the site may be unable to operate as the tools for analysis of channels become inoperable on encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ATSC 3.0 Encryption |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/static.php?name=atsc3_encryption |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=RabbitEars}}</ref>

In cases where encrypted channels were able to be decrypted using certified tuners, it has been reported an active internet connection is required to tune or switch between encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=3 Sep 2023 |title=The ADTH Nextgen TV Box Shows Us Just How Bad ATSC 3.0 Encryption Will Be.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/03/the-adth-nextgen-tv-box-shows-us-just-how-bad-atsc-3-0-encrpytion-will-be/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

LG has also encountered patent issues trying to incorporate tuners into their TVs, which resulted in a dispute with Constellation Design Inc. that ended ATSC 3.0 tuner support in new LG televisions as of September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=26 Sep 2023 |title=New LG Televisions Will Not Have ATSC 3 Tuners Due to Patent Dispute |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/26/new-lg-televisions-will-not-have-atsc-3-tuners-due-to-patent-dispute/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

SiliconDust of HDHomeRun has engaged in official correspondence with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to Pearl TV (ATSC 3.0) with regards to "Authorizing the Permissive Use of the “Next Generation” Broadcast Television Standard (GN Docket No. 16-142)"<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2025-07-18 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (7-18-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107180407509394/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> pointing out Pearl TV is acting as a '''gatekeeper''' by deciding which tuners to allow and not allow even after being "certified" for NextGenTV ATSC 3.0 as well as making mention that strict '''exclusive use of (google) widevine''' prevents popular devices such as Roku, Xbox, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Windows, or Mac from ever accessing the encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-22 |title=Silicondust Response to Pearl Ex Parte Letter (7-22-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10722712322683/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> At which the two responded back and forth where Pearl TV attempted to make claim that SiliconDust is using a blacklisted chip. Pearl also made claim that SiliconDust must have a Widevine CDM license.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-25 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (Reply 7-25-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1072583827524/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> To which SiliconDust responded claiming Pearl continues to push false narratives. They point out they are "not required or expected to have the Level 1 CDM license described by Pearl" as well as stating that the "SoC part used in a video gateway device [the blacklisted chip], is not relevant in any way to viewers accessing ATSC 3.0 content."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-29 |title=SiliconDust Reply to 2nd Pearl |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107301849911610/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> In follow-up to this incident, Nicholas J Kelsey – President of Silicondust met with the FCC where he goes over in detail how the broadcast industry is attempting to use ATSC 3.0 DRM to illegally limit access to public airwaves, "The TV receiver market is being regulated by the private broadcast industry (a different industry)" by acting as gatekeeper, Stifling innovation, having "secret A3SA rules" as well as many other key points in relation to these issues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-01 |title=SiliconDust Ex Parte Letter re FCC meeting (7-31-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1080140138248/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> ''(*'''It should be noted that discussion in regards to the A3SA specifications and rules are forbidden from being referenced in the filings due to NDAs''').''

Pearl TV accuses SiliconDust HDHomeRun devices of using a chip manufactured by Chinese HiSilicon, which is blacklisted by the US government and uses that as their reasoning to not approve SiliconDust HDHomeRun for DRM certification suggests that any component from a blacklisted company violates the industry’s secret, non-disclosable rules concerning decryption<ref name=":1" />. However, the SiliconDust devices have FCC certification & approval for sale in the USA. It is also worth noting, A3SA & Pearl's use of "Selectively enforcing this rule" is based on the fact that their own DRM certified device (Converter X1 by GTMedia (''A Chinese company'')) contains a similar chip that is also blacklisted by the US government. Moreover, GTMedia devices were shipped running an outdated Android OS with known security vulnerabilities and required side-loading of all apps due to the absence of the Google Play Store, further compromising user safety.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=2025-07-22 |title=Did TV Broadcasters Just Admit to Selectively Enforcing Their Own Encryption Rules? |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2025/07/22/did-tv-broadcasters-just-admit-to-selectively-enforcing-their-own-encryption-rules/ |url-status=live |website=Lon.TV Blog}}</ref>

==See also==

*[https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=atsc3 rabbitears.info page on ATSC 3.0, listing encrypted channels.]
*[https://blog.lon.tv/2023/07/10/the-fcc-responds-to-my-atsc-3-encryption-complaint-they-want-to-hear-from-you/ Lon Seidman Blogpost on the FCC response to ATSC DRM]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

ATSC 3.0

2025-08-05T22:37:05Z

ZanderKeen:

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Release Year =2017
| Product Type =Television Transmission Protocol
| In Production =Yes
| Official Website =https://watchnextgentv.com/
| Logo =NextGenTVBug.png
}}

'''[[wikipedia:ATSC_3.0|ATSC 3.0]]''', also known as '''NextGenTV (in US) or TV 3.0 DTV+ (in Brazil)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decreto vai confirmar padrão ATSC e faixa de 300 MHz para a TV 3.0 |trans-title=Decree will confirm ATSC standard and 300 MHz band for TV 3.0 |url=https://telesintese.com.br/decreto-vai-confirmar-padrao-atsc-e-faixa-de-300-mhz-para-a-tv-3-0/ |website=Telesintese |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Globo inaugura primeira estação de TV 3.0 do Brasil e inicia testes com DTV+ |trans-title=Globo inaugurates Brazil's first TV 3.0 station and begins DTV+ tests |url=https://www.minhaoperadora.com.br/2025/06/globo-inaugura-primeira-estacao-de-tv-3-0-do-brasil-e-inicia-testes-com-dtv.html |website=Minha Operadora |language=pt-br}}</ref>''',''' is a television protocol for terrestrial (over the air) broadcasting. It promises to deliver over 4K resolution and 120 FPS broadcast television using modern standards like HEVC, HDR, Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H 3D audio, alongside better "interaction among the broadcasters and the users".

==Consumer impact summary==
NextGenTV has had privacy concerns over internet based viewer metrics/analytics and targeted advertising, voiced by FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balderston |first=Michael |date=29 Jan 2020 |title=Starks Warns of Potential Privacy, Data Issues With ATSC 3.0 |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/atsc3/starks-warns-of-potential-privacy-data-issues-with-atsc-3-0 |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=tvtech}}</ref> More importantly, NextGenTV marked the introduction of [[Digital rights management]] and encryption to freely available television airwaves.

The authority for encryption in ATSC 3.0 is called A3SA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paving the Way for Enhanced Security |url=https://a3sa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=A3SA}}</ref> According to a article on Techhive,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=28 Jul 2023 |title=NextGen TV’s DRM puts future of the over-the-air DVR in doubt |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2009693/nextgen-tv-drm-puts-future-of-the-over-the-air-dvr-in-doubt.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=TechHive}}</ref> restrictions that could be imposed by A3SA's DRM might include:

*Blocking or setting expiry dates on recordings
*Blocking remote access of tuners
*Always-on internet being required for viewing/streaming/playback
*Pairing recordings to the tuner it was recorded from
*"Blessing" devices that pass the A3SA's DRM certification and licensing program
The Techhive article also describes that implementation of DRM could increase the cost of tuners due to the required licensing and certification programs on vendors.

On certified devices, it was also discovered by Lon Seidman that tuner decryption certificates can expire after 10 to 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=30 Jan 2024 |title=ATSC 3 TV Tuners Have an Expiration Date, Slow Progress on Gateway Devices and More.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2024/01/30/atsc-3-tv-tuners-have-an-expiration-date-slow-progress-on-gateway-devices-and-more/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

==Incidents==
Many major US ATSC 3.0 pilot stations started encrypting their broadcasts in 2023,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=15 May 2023 |title=Broadcasters Roll Out Restrictive DRM Encryption on ATSC 3.0 Broadcasts |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/05/15/broadcasters-roll-out-restrictive-drm-encryption-on-atsc-3-0-broadcasts/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref> locking out users of all pre-certification ATSC 3.0 tuners without decryption support. This has led to some resource websites like [https://www.rabbitears.info/ rabbitears.info] to become concerned about their future providing information on channels due to encryption becoming more widespread. They warn the site may be unable to operate as the tools for analysis of channels become inoperable on encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ATSC 3.0 Encryption |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/static.php?name=atsc3_encryption |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=RabbitEars}}</ref>

In cases where encrypted channels were able to be decrypted using certified tuners, it has been reported an active internet connection is required to tune or switch between encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=3 Sep 2023 |title=The ADTH Nextgen TV Box Shows Us Just How Bad ATSC 3.0 Encryption Will Be.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/03/the-adth-nextgen-tv-box-shows-us-just-how-bad-atsc-3-0-encrpytion-will-be/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

LG has also encountered patent issues trying to incorporate tuners into their TVs, which resulted in a dispute with Constellation Design Inc. that ended ATSC 3.0 tuner support in new LG televisions as of September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=26 Sep 2023 |title=New LG Televisions Will Not Have ATSC 3 Tuners Due to Patent Dispute |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/26/new-lg-televisions-will-not-have-atsc-3-tuners-due-to-patent-dispute/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

SiliconDust of HDHomeRun has engaged in official correspondence with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to Pearl TV (ATSC 3.0) with regards to "Authorizing the Permissive Use of the “Next Generation” Broadcast Television Standard (GN Docket No. 16-142)"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-18 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (7-18-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107180407509394/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> pointing out Pearl TV is acting as a '''gatekeeper''' by deciding which tuners to allow and not allow even after being "certified" for NextGenTV ATSC 3.0 as well as making mention that strict '''exclusive use of (google) widevine''' prevents popular devices such as Roku, Xbox, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Windows, or Mac from ever accessing the encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-22 |title=Silicondust Response to Pearl Ex Parte Letter (7-22-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10722712322683/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> At which the two responded back and forth where Pearl TV attempted to make claim that SiliconDust is using a blacklisted chip. Pearl also made claim that SiliconDust must have a Widevine CDM license.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-25 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (Reply 7-25-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1072583827524/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> To which SiliconDust responded claiming Pearl continues to push false narratives. They point out they are "not required or expected to have the Level 1 CDM license described by Pearl" as well as stating that the "SoC part used in a video gateway device [the blacklisted chip], is not relevant in any way to viewers accessing ATSC 3.0 content."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-29 |title=SiliconDust Reply to 2nd Pearl |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107301849911610/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> In follow-up to this incident, Nicholas J Kelsey – President of Silicondust met with the FCC where he goes over in detail how the broadcast industry is attempting to use ATSC 3.0 DRM to illegally limit access to public airwaves, "The TV receiver market is being regulated by the private broadcast industry (a different industry)" by acting as gatekeeper, Stifling innovation, having "secret A3SA rules" as well as many other key points in relation to these issues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-01 |title=SiliconDust Ex Parte Letter re FCC meeting (7-31-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1080140138248/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> ''(*'''It should be noted that discussion in regards to the A3SA specifications and rules are forbidden from being referenced in the filings due to NDAs''').''

Pearl TV accuses SiliconDust HDHomeRun devices of using a chip manufactured by HiSilicon which is blacklisted by the US government and uses that as their reasoning to not approve SiliconDust HDHomeRun for DRM certification suggesting that any component from a blacklisted company violates the industry’s secret, non-disclosable rules concerning decryption. However, the SiliconDust devices have FCC certification & approval for sale in the USA. It is also worth noting, A3SA & Pearl's use of "Selectively enforcing this rule" is based on the fact that their own DRM certified device (Converter X1 by GTMedia (''A Chinese company'')) contains a similar chip that is also blacklisted by the US government. On top of that, those devices were shipped running the "Android operating system that was four years out of date containing many known security vulnerabilities that puts consumers at risk", as well as the requirement of side-loading of all apps because it did not have the Google Play Store which opens the door to additional vulnerabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=2025-07-22 |title=Did TV Broadcasters Just Admit to Selectively Enforcing Their Own Encryption Rules? |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2025/07/22/did-tv-broadcasters-just-admit-to-selectively-enforcing-their-own-encryption-rules/ |url-status=live |website=Lon.TV Blog}}</ref>

==See also==

*[https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=atsc3 rabbitears.info page on ATSC 3.0, listing encrypted channels.]
*[https://blog.lon.tv/2023/07/10/the-fcc-responds-to-my-atsc-3-encryption-complaint-they-want-to-hear-from-you/ Lon Seidman Blogpost on the FCC response to ATSC DRM]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

ATSC 3.0

2025-08-05T22:09:19Z

ZanderKeen: /* Incidents */

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Release Year =2017
| Product Type =Television Transmission Protocol
| In Production =Yes
| Official Website =https://watchnextgentv.com/
| Logo =NextGenTVBug.png
}}

'''[[wikipedia:ATSC_3.0|ATSC 3.0]]''', also known as '''NextGenTV (in US) or TV 3.0 DTV+ (in Brazil)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decreto vai confirmar padrão ATSC e faixa de 300 MHz para a TV 3.0 |trans-title=Decree will confirm ATSC standard and 300 MHz band for TV 3.0 |url=https://telesintese.com.br/decreto-vai-confirmar-padrao-atsc-e-faixa-de-300-mhz-para-a-tv-3-0/ |website=Telesintese |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Globo inaugura primeira estação de TV 3.0 do Brasil e inicia testes com DTV+ |trans-title=Globo inaugurates Brazil's first TV 3.0 station and begins DTV+ tests |url=https://www.minhaoperadora.com.br/2025/06/globo-inaugura-primeira-estacao-de-tv-3-0-do-brasil-e-inicia-testes-com-dtv.html |website=Minha Operadora |language=pt-br}}</ref>''',''' is a television protocol for terrestrial (over the air) broadcasting. It promises to deliver over 4K resolution and 120 FPS broadcast television using modern standards like HEVC, HDR, Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H 3D audio, alongside better "interaction among the broadcasters and the users".

==Consumer impact summary==
NextGenTV has had privacy concerns over internet based viewer metrics/analytics and targeted advertising, voiced by FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balderston |first=Michael |date=29 Jan 2020 |title=Starks Warns of Potential Privacy, Data Issues With ATSC 3.0 |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/atsc3/starks-warns-of-potential-privacy-data-issues-with-atsc-3-0 |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=tvtech}}</ref> More importantly, NextGenTV marked the introduction of [[Digital rights management]] and encryption to freely available television airwaves.

The authority for encryption in ATSC 3.0 is called A3SA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paving the Way for Enhanced Security |url=https://a3sa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=A3SA}}</ref> According to a article on Techhive,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=28 Jul 2023 |title=NextGen TV’s DRM puts future of the over-the-air DVR in doubt |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2009693/nextgen-tv-drm-puts-future-of-the-over-the-air-dvr-in-doubt.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=TechHive}}</ref> restrictions that could be imposed by A3SA's DRM might include:

*Blocking or setting expiry dates on recordings
*Blocking remote access of tuners
*Always-on internet being required for viewing/streaming/playback
*Pairing recordings to the tuner it was recorded from
*"Blessing" devices that pass the A3SA's DRM certification and licensing program
The Techhive article also describes that implementation of DRM could increase the cost of tuners due to the required licensing and certification programs on vendors.

On certified devices, it was also discovered by Lon Seidman that tuner decryption certificates can expire after 10 to 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=30 Jan 2024 |title=ATSC 3 TV Tuners Have an Expiration Date, Slow Progress on Gateway Devices and More.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2024/01/30/atsc-3-tv-tuners-have-an-expiration-date-slow-progress-on-gateway-devices-and-more/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

==Incidents==
Many major US ATSC 3.0 pilot stations started encrypting their broadcasts in 2023,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=15 May 2023 |title=Broadcasters Roll Out Restrictive DRM Encryption on ATSC 3.0 Broadcasts |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/05/15/broadcasters-roll-out-restrictive-drm-encryption-on-atsc-3-0-broadcasts/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref> locking out users of all pre-certification ATSC 3.0 tuners without decryption support. This has led to some resource websites like [https://www.rabbitears.info/ rabbitears.info] to become concerned about their future providing information on channels due to encryption becoming more widespread. They warn the site may be unable to operate as the tools for analysis of channels become inoperable on encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ATSC 3.0 Encryption |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/static.php?name=atsc3_encryption |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=RabbitEars}}</ref>

In cases where encrypted channels were able to be decrypted using certified tuners, it has been reported an active internet connection is required to tune or switch between encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=3 Sep 2023 |title=The ADTH Nextgen TV Box Shows Us Just How Bad ATSC 3.0 Encryption Will Be.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/03/the-adth-nextgen-tv-box-shows-us-just-how-bad-atsc-3-0-encrpytion-will-be/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

LG has also encountered patent issues trying to incorporate tuners into their TVs, which resulted in a dispute with Constellation Design Inc. that ended ATSC 3.0 tuner support in new LG televisions as of September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=26 Sep 2023 |title=New LG Televisions Will Not Have ATSC 3 Tuners Due to Patent Dispute |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/26/new-lg-televisions-will-not-have-atsc-3-tuners-due-to-patent-dispute/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

SiliconDust of HDHomeRun has conversed in official letters with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to Pearl TV (ATSC 3.0) with regards to "Authorizing the Permissive Use of the “Next Generation” Broadcast Television Standard (GN Docket No. 16-142)"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-18 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (7-18-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107180407509394/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> pointing out Pearl TV is acting as a '''gatekeeper''' by deciding which tuners to allow and not allow even after being "certified" for NextGenTV ATSC 3.0 as well as making mention that strict '''exclusive use of (google) widevine''' prevents popular devices such as Roku, Xbox, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Windows, or Mac from ever accessing the encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-22 |title=Silicondust Response to Pearl Ex Parte Letter (7-22-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10722712322683/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> At which the two responded back and forth where Pearl TV attempted to make claim that SiliconDust is using a blacklisted chip. Pearl also made claim that SiliconDust must have a Widevine CDM license.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-25 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (Reply 7-25-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1072583827524/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> To which SiliconDust responded claiming Pearl continues to push false narratives. They point out they are "not required or expected to have the Level 1 CDM license described by Pearl" as well as stating that the "SoC part used in a video gateway device [the blacklisted chip], is not relevant in any way to viewers accessing ATSC 3.0 content."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-29 |title=SiliconDust Reply to 2nd Pearl |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107301849911610/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> In follow-up to this incident, Nicholas J Kelsey – President of Silicondust met with the FCC where he goes over in detail how the broadcast industry is attempting to use ATSC 3.0 DRM to illegally limit access to public airwaves, "The TV receiver market is being regulated by the private broadcast industry (a different industry)" by acting as gatekeeper, Stifling innovation, having "secret A3SA rules" as well as many other key points in relation to these issues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-01 |title=SiliconDust Ex Parte Letter re FCC meeting (7-31-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1080140138248/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> ''(*'''It should be noted that discussion in regards to the A3SA specifications and rules are forbidden from being referenced in the filings due to NDAs''').''

Pearl TV accuses SiliconDust HDHomeRun devices of using a chip manufactured by HiSilicon which is blacklisted by the US government and uses that as their reasoning to not approve SiliconDust HDHomeRun for DRM certification suggesting that any component from a blacklisted company violates the industry’s secret, non-disclosable rules concerning decryption. However, the SiliconDust devices have FCC certification & approval for sale in the USA. It is also worth noting, A3SA & Pearl's use of "Selectively enforcing this rule" is based on the fact that their own DRM certified device (Converter X1 by GTMedia (''A Chinese company'')) contains a similar chip that is also blacklisted by the US government. On top of that, those devices were shipped running the "Android operating system that was four years out of date containing many known security vulnerabilities that puts consumers at risk", as well as the requirement of side-loading of all apps because it did not have the Google Play Store which opens the door to additional vulnerabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=2025-07-22 |title=Did TV Broadcasters Just Admit to Selectively Enforcing Their Own Encryption Rules? |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2025/07/22/did-tv-broadcasters-just-admit-to-selectively-enforcing-their-own-encryption-rules/ |url-status=live |website=Lon.TV Blog}}</ref>

==See also==

*[https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=atsc3 rabbitears.info page on ATSC 3.0, listing encrypted channels.]
*[https://blog.lon.tv/2023/07/10/the-fcc-responds-to-my-atsc-3-encryption-complaint-they-want-to-hear-from-you/ Lon Seidman Blogpost on the FCC response to ATSC DRM]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

ATSC 3.0

2025-08-05T21:39:04Z

ZanderKeen: /* Incidents */

{{InfoboxProductLine
| Title = {{PAGENAME}}
| Release Year =2017
| Product Type =Television Transmission Protocol
| In Production =Yes
| Official Website =https://watchnextgentv.com/
| Logo =NextGenTVBug.png
}}

'''[[wikipedia:ATSC_3.0|ATSC 3.0]]''', also known as '''NextGenTV (in US) or TV 3.0 DTV+ (in Brazil)'''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Decreto vai confirmar padrão ATSC e faixa de 300 MHz para a TV 3.0 |trans-title=Decree will confirm ATSC standard and 300 MHz band for TV 3.0 |url=https://telesintese.com.br/decreto-vai-confirmar-padrao-atsc-e-faixa-de-300-mhz-para-a-tv-3-0/ |website=Telesintese |language=pt-br}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Globo inaugura primeira estação de TV 3.0 do Brasil e inicia testes com DTV+ |trans-title=Globo inaugurates Brazil's first TV 3.0 station and begins DTV+ tests |url=https://www.minhaoperadora.com.br/2025/06/globo-inaugura-primeira-estacao-de-tv-3-0-do-brasil-e-inicia-testes-com-dtv.html |website=Minha Operadora |language=pt-br}}</ref>''',''' is a television protocol for terrestrial (over the air) broadcasting. It promises to deliver over 4K resolution and 120 FPS broadcast television using modern standards like HEVC, HDR, Dolby AC-4 and MPEG-H 3D audio, alongside better "interaction among the broadcasters and the users".

==Consumer impact summary==
NextGenTV has had privacy concerns over internet based viewer metrics/analytics and targeted advertising, voiced by FCC commissioner Geoffrey Starks in 2020.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Balderston |first=Michael |date=29 Jan 2020 |title=Starks Warns of Potential Privacy, Data Issues With ATSC 3.0 |url=https://www.tvtechnology.com/atsc3/starks-warns-of-potential-privacy-data-issues-with-atsc-3-0 |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=tvtech}}</ref> More importantly, NextGenTV marked the introduction of [[Digital rights management]] and encryption to freely available television airwaves.

The authority for encryption in ATSC 3.0 is called A3SA.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Paving the Way for Enhanced Security |url=https://a3sa.com/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=A3SA}}</ref> According to a article on Techhive,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Newman |first=Jared |date=28 Jul 2023 |title=NextGen TV’s DRM puts future of the over-the-air DVR in doubt |url=https://www.techhive.com/article/2009693/nextgen-tv-drm-puts-future-of-the-over-the-air-dvr-in-doubt.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=TechHive}}</ref> restrictions that could be imposed by A3SA's DRM might include:

*Blocking or setting expiry dates on recordings
*Blocking remote access of tuners
*Always-on internet being required for viewing/streaming/playback
*Pairing recordings to the tuner it was recorded from
*"Blessing" devices that pass the A3SA's DRM certification and licensing program
The Techhive article also describes that implementation of DRM could increase the cost of tuners due to the required licensing and certification programs on vendors.

On certified devices, it was also discovered by Lon Seidman that tuner decryption certificates can expire after 10 to 30 years.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=30 Jan 2024 |title=ATSC 3 TV Tuners Have an Expiration Date, Slow Progress on Gateway Devices and More.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2024/01/30/atsc-3-tv-tuners-have-an-expiration-date-slow-progress-on-gateway-devices-and-more/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

==Incidents==
Many major US ATSC 3.0 pilot stations started encrypting their broadcasts in 2023,<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=15 May 2023 |title=Broadcasters Roll Out Restrictive DRM Encryption on ATSC 3.0 Broadcasts |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/05/15/broadcasters-roll-out-restrictive-drm-encryption-on-atsc-3-0-broadcasts/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref> locking out users of all pre-certification ATSC 3.0 tuners without decryption support. This has led to some resource websites like [https://www.rabbitears.info/ rabbitears.info] to become concerned about their future providing information on channels due to encryption becoming more widespread. They warn the site may be unable to operate as the tools for analysis of channels become inoperable on encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ATSC 3.0 Encryption |url=https://www.rabbitears.info/static.php?name=atsc3_encryption |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=RabbitEars}}</ref>

In cases where encrypted channels were able to be decrypted using certified tuners, it has been reported an active internet connection is required to tune or switch between encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=3 Sep 2023 |title=The ADTH Nextgen TV Box Shows Us Just How Bad ATSC 3.0 Encryption Will Be.. |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/03/the-adth-nextgen-tv-box-shows-us-just-how-bad-atsc-3-0-encrpytion-will-be/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

LG has also encountered patent issues trying to incorporate tuners into their TVs, which resulted in a dispute with Constellation Design Inc. that ended ATSC 3.0 tuner support in new LG televisions as of September 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=26 Sep 2023 |title=New LG Televisions Will Not Have ATSC 3 Tuners Due to Patent Dispute |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2023/09/26/new-lg-televisions-will-not-have-atsc-3-tuners-due-to-patent-dispute/ |url-status=live |access-date=28 Mar 2025 |website=Lon.tv}}</ref>

SiliconDust of HDHomeRun has conversed in official letters with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in response to Pearl TV (ATSC 3.0) with regards to "Authorizing the Permissive Use of the “Next Generation” Broadcast Television Standard (GN Docket No. 16-142)"<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-18 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (7-18-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107180407509394/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> pointing out Pearl TV is acting as a '''gatekeeper''' by deciding which tuners to allow and not allow even after being "certified" for NextGenTV ATSC 3.0 as well as making mention that strict '''exclusive use of (google) widevine''' prevents popular devices such as Roku, Xbox, Apple TV, iPhone, iPad, Windows, or Mac from ever accessing the encrypted channels.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-22 |title=Silicondust Response to Pearl Ex Parte Letter (7-22-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/10722712322683/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> At which the two responded back and forth where Pearl TV attempted to make claim that SiliconDust is using a banned chip by US law in their devices as their new reasoning to not approving the HDHomeRun tuners (even though the SiliconDust devices have FCC certification & approval for sale in the USA). Pearl also made claim that SiliconDust must have a Widevine CDM license.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-25 |title=Pearl Ex Parte Letter re HD HomeRun (Reply 7-25-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1072583827524/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> To which SiliconDust responded claiming Pearl continues to push false narratives. They point out they are "not required or expected to have the Level 1 CDM license described by Pearl" as well as stating that the "SoC part used in a video gateway device [the banned chip], is not relevant in any way to viewers accessing ATSC 3.0 content."<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-07-29 |title=SiliconDust Reply to 2nd Pearl |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/107301849911610/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> In follow-up to this incident, Nicholas J Kelsey – President of Silicondust met with the FCC where he goes over in detail how the broadcast industry is attempting to use ATSC 3.0 DRM to illegally limit access to public airwaves, "The TV receiver market is being regulated by the private broadcast industry (a different industry)" by acting as gatekeeper, Stifling innovation, having "secret A3SA rules" as well as many other key points in relation to these issues.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-08-01 |title=SiliconDust Ex Parte Letter re FCC meeting (7-31-25) |url=https://www.fcc.gov/ecfs/document/1080140138248/1 |url-status=live |website=FCC.gov}}</ref> ''(*'''It should be noted that discussion in regards to the A3SA specifications and rules are forbidden from being referenced in the filings due to NDAs''').''

Pearl TV accuses SiliconDust HDHomeRun devices of using a chip manufactured by HiSilicon which is blacklisted by the US government and uses that as their reasoning to not approve SiliconDust HDHomeRun for DRM certification suggesting that any component from a blacklisted company violates the industry’s secret, non-disclosable rules concerning decryption. However, the SiliconDust devices have FCC certification & approval for sale in the USA. It is also worth noting, A3SA & Pearl's use of "Selectively enforcing this rule" is based on the fact that their own DRM certified device (Converter X1 by GTMedia (''A Chinese company'')) contains a similar chip that is also blacklisted by the US government. On top of that, those devices were shipped running the "Android operating system that was four years out of date containing many known security vulnerabilities that puts consumers at risk", as well as the requirement of side-loading of all apps because it did not have the Google Play Store which opens the door to additional vulnerabilities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Seidman |first=Lon |date=2025-07-22 |title=Did TV Broadcasters Just Admit to Selectively Enforcing Their Own Encryption Rules? |url=https://blog.lon.tv/2025/07/22/did-tv-broadcasters-just-admit-to-selectively-enforcing-their-own-encryption-rules/ |url-status=live |website=Lon.TV Blog}}</ref>

==See also==

*[https://www.rabbitears.info/market.php?request=atsc3 rabbitears.info page on ATSC 3.0, listing encrypted channels.]
*[https://blog.lon.tv/2023/07/10/the-fcc-responds-to-my-atsc-3-encryption-complaint-they-want-to-hear-from-you/ Lon Seidman Blogpost on the FCC response to ATSC DRM]

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]
[[Category:Articles in need of additional work]]

Ubisoft

2025-07-07T03:36:36Z

ZanderKeen: /* Switch to subscription model for the game Rocksmith */ Spelling correction :)

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Ubisoft
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1986
| Industry = Video Games
| Official Website = https://ubisoft.com/
| Logo = Ubisoft.png
}}

'''[[Wikipedia:Ubisoft|Ubisoft Entertainment SA]]''' is a multinational video-game company, known for developing and publishing popular franchises such as ''Assassin's Creed'', ''Far Cry'', and ''Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six''. The company has positioned itself as a leader in the video game industry, referring to some of its releases as "AAAA" games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Olivia |date=10 Sep 2020 |title=Ubisoft Insists On Calling Beyond Good And Evil 2, Skull & Bones ‘AAAA’ Games |url=https://screenrant.com/ubisoft-beyond-good-evil-skull-bones-aaaa-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

==Relevant incidents==

===''The Crew'' shutdown===
One of the most significant consumer protection issues surrounding Ubisoft in recent years relates to the 2014 game ''The Crew''. In late 2023, Ubisoft announced the shutdown of the online services for ''The Crew'', making the game unplayable entirely, even the single-player content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=14 Dec 2023 |title=The Crew Delisted From All Digital Storefronts, Servers Shut Down Early 2024 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-crew-delisted-from-all-digital-storefronts-servers-shut-down-early-2024 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> The decision to decommission the game's servers was controversial, as Ubisoft retroactively altered the terms of sale. Players who had purchased the game, which was initially marketed with certain single-player functionality, found that they could no longer access said single-player features after the servers were shut down.

The decommissioning of ''The Crew'' also sparked a wider debate on the viability of "games-as-a-service" models, which Ubisoft has heavily invested in.<ref>[https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ Stop Killing Games]</ref> These models often require ongoing internet connectivity to function and rely on servers run by the company. At any time, the company can decide to shut down the servers and the games will no longer be playable, as seen with ''The Crew''.

Weeks after the shutdown of The Crew, Ubisoft also revoked the licenses for players off the Ubisoft Connect PC app, so the game was no longer downloadable.

===''Star Wars Outlaws'' forced update===
''Star Wars Outlaws'' was released in August 2024, with two editions that allowed players to have early access to the game for $110 and $130, respectively, approximately twice the cost of the game on release day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Chris |date=6 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws: Here’s What Comes in Each Edition |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-outlaws-release-date-special-editions |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> Ubisoft then pushed an update just before the full release that caused players on PlayStation 5 who had paid extra for the game as early access to have their save file deleted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Kyle |date=28 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Players Forced to Delete Saved Data on PS5 |url=https://gamerant.com/star-wars-outlaws-bug-delete-save-data-ps5/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Rant}}</ref> Although the update was intended to fix a game-breaking bug, upon full release many bugs remained.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gherzo |first=Alex |date=27 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Still Looks Buggy the Week of Its Release |url=https://www.geeksandgamers.com/star-wars-outlaws-still-looks-buggy-the-week-of-its-release/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Geeks and Gamers}}</ref> This behavior also highlights an ongoing pattern in which Ubisoft releases an incomplete game, expects players to buy the game and act as the testers, and then patches the game later.

===Inclusion of lawsuit-waiving clauses in game-giveaway license===
In December of 2014, Ubisoft was giving away free licenses for a game, but with a catch: the terms<ref>{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=23 Dec 2014 |title=Assassin's Creed Unity Free Game Offer Waives Lawsuits |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassin-s-creed-unity-free-game-offer-waives-laws/1100-6424381/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Gamespot}}</ref> for the clickwrap agreement in obtaining the game for free contained a clause stating that the user could not sue Ubisoft in relation to ''Assassin's Creed Unity'' or its season pass:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Futter |first=Mike |date=18 Dec 2014 |title=Your Assassin’s Creed Unity Season Pass Free Game Comes With A Legal Catch |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Informer}}</ref><blockquote>''You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.''</blockquote>

===Comments by executives===
Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, has repeatedly stated that "[[games-as-a-service]]" is the future of the gaming industry,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreier |first=Jason |date=30 May 2017 |title=Top Video Game Companies Won't Stop Talking About 'Games As A Service' |url=https://kotaku.com/top-video-game-companies-wont-stop-talking-about-games-1795663927 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku}}</ref> and Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, said that players should get used to not owning their games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=16 Jan 2024 |title=Ubisoft Exec Says Gamers Need to Get 'Comfortable' Not Owning Their Games for Subscriptions to Take Off |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-exec-says-gamers-need-to-get-comfortable-not-owning-their-games-for-subscriptions-to-take-off |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> These comments have been met with criticism, particularly when juxtaposed with decisions like the shutdown of ''The Crew'' and the introduction of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into Ubisoft’s business model.

On January 15, 2024, Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, was interviewed by [http://www.gamesindustry.biz gamesindustry.biz]. During this interview, Tremblay made the following comment on ownership:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=15 Jan 2024 |title=The new Ubisoft+ and getting gamers comfortable with not owning their games |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-new-ubisoft-and-getting-gamers-comfortable-with-not-owning-their-games |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Games Industry}}</ref><blockquote>"One of the things we saw is that gamers are used to, a little bit like DVD, having and owning their games. That's the consumer shift that needs to happen. They got comfortable not owning their CD collection or DVD collection. That's a transformation that's been a bit slower to happen [in games]. As gamers grow comfortable in that aspect… you don't lose your progress. If you resume your game at another time, your progress file is still there. That's not been deleted. You don't lose what you've built in the game or your engagement with the game. So it's about feeling comfortable with not owning your game."</blockquote>

===California class action lawsuit===
Polygon reported on November 11, 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=11 Nov 2024 |title=Ubisoft sued for shutting down The Crew |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/476979/ubisoft-the-crew-shut-down-lawsuit-class-action |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> about two owners of the crew filing a class action lawsuit against Ubisoft on November 04, 2024 alleging violations of unfair competition, false advertising, fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of implied warranty, according to California Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Apr 2024 |title=Crew Lawsuit Via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/790913960/Crew-Lawsuit-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref><blockquote>"Imagine you buy a pinball machine, and years later, you enter your den to go play it, only to discover that all the paddles are missing, the pinball and bumpers are gone, and the monitor that proudly displayed your unassailable high score is removed."</blockquote>Ubisoft responded to this lawsuit with a motion to dismiss on February 05, 20205, also reported by Polygon,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=9 Apr 2025 |title=Ubisoft holds firm in The Crew lawsuit: You don’t own your video games |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/555469/ubisoft-holds-firm-in-the-crew-lawsuit-you-dont-own-your-video-games |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> arguing that plaintiffs don’t have a case reiterating that fact that you don't own the video game you bought:<blockquote>"The [essence] of the plaintiffs’ complaint is that Ubisoft allegedly misled purchasers of its video game The Crew into believing they were purchasing unfettered ownership rights in the game, rather than a limited license to access the game. But the reality is that consumers received the benefit of their bargain and were explicitly notified, at the time of purchase, that they were purchasing a license."<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2025 |title=The Crew lawsuit, Ubisoft response -- via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/848030901/The-Crew-lawsuit-Ubisoft-response-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref></blockquote>On March 18, 2025 plaintiffs ammended the complain with pictures of the physical copy arguing that the in-box Activation Code for The Crew had an expiration date of 2099. Additionally, the game’s in-game currency could be considered a form of gift certificate. In California, a gift certificate is not allowed to expire.

===GDPR Complaint===
On April 24 2025, noyb (a European non-profit organisation for digital rights) filed a [[GDPR]] complaint to the Austrian data protection authority (DSB) against Ubisoft for forcing its customers to connect to the internet every time a single player game is launched, thereby collecting data on gaming behaviour. This collection of data is alleged to be an infringement of Article 6(1) of the GDPR.

Noyb's official statement:<ref name="gdpr-complaint">Like to play alone? Ubisoft is still watching you! (2025, April 28). noyb.eu. https://noyb.eu/en/play-alone-ubisoft-still-watching-you</ref>
<blockquote>Complaint filed in Austria. noyb has therefore filed a GDPR complaint with the Austrian data protection authority (DSB). We request the DSB to declare that Ubisoft infringed Article 6(1) GDPR with its processing of personal data without a valid legal basis. In addition, we request that Ubisoft deletes all personal information by the complainant that has been processed without a valid legal basis – and that the company ceases further unlawful processing. Last but not least, we suggest that the data protection authority impose an administrative fine. Based on Ubisoft’s turnover of more than € 2 billion, the data protection authority could issue a fine of up to € 92 million.(“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025)</blockquote>

According to noyb there is no valid and legal reason to collect such data "Under Article 6(1) GDPR, there seems to be no valid legal basis to randomly collect such user data" (“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025).<ref name="gdpr-complaint" />

===Switch to subscription model for the game Rocksmith===
{{Main|Rocksmith}}
Rocksmith is a Ubisoft video game that got delisted from every storefront to switch to Rocksmith+, a subscription based game.

===Demand to destroy games in your possession===
Tech4Gamers recently reported on July 5, 2025<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rehman |first=Obaid Ur |date=2025-07-05 |title="Ubisoft Wants Gamers To Destroy All Copies of A Game Once It Goes Offline" |url=https://tech4gamers.com/ubisoft-eula-destroy-all-copies-game-goes-offline/ |url-status=live |work=Tech4Gamers}}</ref> the Ubisoft EULA has been updated, which states that upon "termination of Your UBISOFT Account" or "UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product" the owner of a game must not only uninstall the product, but you must also "destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession". As gameGPU states; "even physical media"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Games |first=Maximum |date=2025-07-05 |title=Ubisoft requires all copies of the game to be destroyed upon EULA termination |url=https://en.gamegpu.com/game/Ubisoft-requires-all-copies-of-games-to-be-deleted-upon-EULA-termination |url-status=live |work=GameGPU}}</ref>.

UBISOFT EULA<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ubisoft EULA |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250706174816/https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |archive-date=2025-07-06 |website=Ubisoft}}</ref>:<blockquote>8. TERMINATION.

The EULA is effective from the earlier of the date You purchase, download or use the Product, until terminated according to its terms. You and UBISOFT (or its licensors) may terminate this EULA, at any time, for any reason. Termination by UBISOFT will be effective upon (a) notice to You or (b) termination of Your UBISOFT Account (if any) or (c) at the time of UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product. This EULA will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this EULA. Upon termination for any reason, You must immediately uninstall the Product and destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession.</blockquote>

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]

Ubisoft

2025-07-07T00:10:38Z

ZanderKeen: Added new section "Demand to destroy games in your possession"

{{InfoboxCompany
| Name = Ubisoft
| Type = Public
| Founded = 1986
| Industry = Video Games
| Official Website = https://ubisoft.com/
| Logo = Ubisoft.png
}}

'''[[Wikipedia:Ubisoft|Ubisoft Entertainment SA]]''' is a multinational video-game company, known for developing and publishing popular franchises such as ''Assassin's Creed'', ''Far Cry'', and ''Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six''. The company has positioned itself as a leader in the video game industry, referring to some of its releases as "AAAA" games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Olivia |date=10 Sep 2020 |title=Ubisoft Insists On Calling Beyond Good And Evil 2, Skull & Bones ‘AAAA’ Games |url=https://screenrant.com/ubisoft-beyond-good-evil-skull-bones-aaaa-games/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

==Relevant incidents==

===''The Crew'' shutdown===
One of the most significant consumer protection issues surrounding Ubisoft in recent years relates to the 2014 game ''The Crew''. In late 2023, Ubisoft announced the shutdown of the online services for ''The Crew'', making the game unplayable entirely, even the single-player content.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lyles |first=Taylor |date=14 Dec 2023 |title=The Crew Delisted From All Digital Storefronts, Servers Shut Down Early 2024 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/the-crew-delisted-from-all-digital-storefronts-servers-shut-down-early-2024 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> The decision to decommission the game's servers was controversial, as Ubisoft retroactively altered the terms of sale. Players who had purchased the game, which was initially marketed with certain single-player functionality, found that they could no longer access said single-player features after the servers were shut down.

The decommissioning of ''The Crew'' also sparked a wider debate on the viability of "games-as-a-service" models, which Ubisoft has heavily invested in.<ref>[https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ Stop Killing Games]</ref> These models often require ongoing internet connectivity to function and rely on servers run by the company. At any time, the company can decide to shut down the servers and the games will no longer be playable, as seen with ''The Crew''.

Weeks after the shutdown of The Crew, Ubisoft also revoked the licenses for players off the Ubisoft Connect PC app, so the game was no longer downloadable.

===''Star Wars Outlaws'' forced update===
''Star Wars Outlaws'' was released in August 2024, with two editions that allowed players to have early access to the game for $110 and $130, respectively, approximately twice the cost of the game on release day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reed |first=Chris |date=6 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws: Here’s What Comes in Each Edition |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/star-wars-outlaws-release-date-special-editions |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> Ubisoft then pushed an update just before the full release that caused players on PlayStation 5 who had paid extra for the game as early access to have their save file deleted.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Kyle |date=28 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Players Forced to Delete Saved Data on PS5 |url=https://gamerant.com/star-wars-outlaws-bug-delete-save-data-ps5/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Rant}}</ref> Although the update was intended to fix a game-breaking bug, upon full release many bugs remained.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gherzo |first=Alex |date=27 Aug 2024 |title=Star Wars Outlaws Still Looks Buggy the Week of Its Release |url=https://www.geeksandgamers.com/star-wars-outlaws-still-looks-buggy-the-week-of-its-release/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Geeks and Gamers}}</ref> This behavior also highlights an ongoing pattern in which Ubisoft releases an incomplete game, expects players to buy the game and act as the testers, and then patches the game later.

===Inclusion of lawsuit-waiving clauses in game-giveaway license===
In December of 2014, Ubisoft was giving away free licenses for a game, but with a catch: the terms<ref>{{Cite web |last=Makuch |first=Eddie |date=23 Dec 2014 |title=Assassin's Creed Unity Free Game Offer Waives Lawsuits |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/assassin-s-creed-unity-free-game-offer-waives-laws/1100-6424381/ |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Gamespot}}</ref> for the clickwrap agreement in obtaining the game for free contained a clause stating that the user could not sue Ubisoft in relation to ''Assassin's Creed Unity'' or its season pass:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Futter |first=Mike |date=18 Dec 2014 |title=Your Assassin’s Creed Unity Season Pass Free Game Comes With A Legal Catch |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2014/12/18/your-assassin-s-creed-unity-season-pass-free-game-comes-with-a-legal-catch.aspx |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Game Informer}}</ref><blockquote>''You hereby irrevocably and unconditionally RELEASE, WAIVE, AND FOREVER DISCHARGE AND COVENANT NOT TO SUE Ubisoft Entertainment S.A., and each of its past, present and future divisions, parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, predecessors, successors and assigns, together with all of their respective past, present and future employees, officers, shareholders, directors and agents, and those who give recommendations, directions, or instructions or engage in risk evaluation or loss control activities regarding the Campaign (all for the purposes herein referred to as “Released Parties”) FROM ANY AND ALL LIABILITY TO YOU, your assigns, heirs, and next of kin FOR ANY AND ALL CLAIMS, DEMANDS, CHARGES, LAWSUITS, DEBTS, DEFENSES, ACTIONS OR CAUSES OF ACTION, OBLIGATIONS, DAMAGES, LOSS OF SERVICE, COMPENSATION, PAIN AND SUFFERING, ATTORNEYS’ FEES, AND COST AND EXPENSES OF SUIT, KNOWN OR UNKNOWN, SUSPECTED OR UNSUSPECTED, ARISING OUT OF OR RELATED TO THE PURCHASE, ACQUISITION, RENTAL, POSSESSION AND/OR USAGE, AND/OR THE INTENT TO PURCHASE, ACQUIRE, RENT, POSSESS AND/OR USE, THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY VIDEO GAME AND/OR THE ASSASSIN’S CREED UNITY SEASON PASS ON ANY AND ALL PLATFORMS, AND/OR RELATED TO THE CAMPAIGN, WHETHER CAUSED BY THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASED PARTIES OR OTHERWISE.''</blockquote>

===Comments by executives===
Ubisoft's CEO, Yves Guillemot, has repeatedly stated that "[[games-as-a-service]]" is the future of the gaming industry,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schreier |first=Jason |date=30 May 2017 |title=Top Video Game Companies Won't Stop Talking About 'Games As A Service' |url=https://kotaku.com/top-video-game-companies-wont-stop-talking-about-games-1795663927 |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Kotaku}}</ref> and Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, said that players should get used to not owning their games.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=16 Jan 2024 |title=Ubisoft Exec Says Gamers Need to Get 'Comfortable' Not Owning Their Games for Subscriptions to Take Off |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-exec-says-gamers-need-to-get-comfortable-not-owning-their-games-for-subscriptions-to-take-off |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=IGN}}</ref> These comments have been met with criticism, particularly when juxtaposed with decisions like the shutdown of ''The Crew'' and the introduction of non-fungible tokens (NFTs) into Ubisoft’s business model.

On January 15, 2024, Ubisoft's director of subscriptions, Philippe Tremblay, was interviewed by [http://www.gamesindustry.biz gamesindustry.biz]. During this interview, Tremblay made the following comment on ownership:<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dring |first=Christopher |date=15 Jan 2024 |title=The new Ubisoft+ and getting gamers comfortable with not owning their games |url=https://www.gamesindustry.biz/the-new-ubisoft-and-getting-gamers-comfortable-with-not-owning-their-games |url-status=live |access-date=31 Mar 2025 |website=Games Industry}}</ref><blockquote>"One of the things we saw is that gamers are used to, a little bit like DVD, having and owning their games. That's the consumer shift that needs to happen. They got comfortable not owning their CD collection or DVD collection. That's a transformation that's been a bit slower to happen [in games]. As gamers grow comfortable in that aspect… you don't lose your progress. If you resume your game at another time, your progress file is still there. That's not been deleted. You don't lose what you've built in the game or your engagement with the game. So it's about feeling comfortable with not owning your game."</blockquote>

===California class action lawsuit===
Polygon reported on November 11, 2024<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=11 Nov 2024 |title=Ubisoft sued for shutting down The Crew |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/476979/ubisoft-the-crew-shut-down-lawsuit-class-action |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> about two owners of the crew filing a class action lawsuit against Ubisoft on November 04, 2024 alleging violations of unfair competition, false advertising, fraudulent misrepresentation and breach of implied warranty, according to California Law.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 Apr 2024 |title=Crew Lawsuit Via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/790913960/Crew-Lawsuit-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref><blockquote>"Imagine you buy a pinball machine, and years later, you enter your den to go play it, only to discover that all the paddles are missing, the pinball and bumpers are gone, and the monitor that proudly displayed your unassailable high score is removed."</blockquote>Ubisoft responded to this lawsuit with a motion to dismiss on February 05, 20205, also reported by Polygon,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carpenter |first=Nicole |date=9 Apr 2025 |title=Ubisoft holds firm in The Crew lawsuit: You don’t own your video games |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/555469/ubisoft-holds-firm-in-the-crew-lawsuit-you-dont-own-your-video-games |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Polygon}}</ref> arguing that plaintiffs don’t have a case reiterating that fact that you don't own the video game you bought:<blockquote>"The [essence] of the plaintiffs’ complaint is that Ubisoft allegedly misled purchasers of its video game The Crew into believing they were purchasing unfettered ownership rights in the game, rather than a limited license to access the game. But the reality is that consumers received the benefit of their bargain and were explicitly notified, at the time of purchase, that they were purchasing a license."<ref>{{Cite web |date=25 Feb 2025 |title=The Crew lawsuit, Ubisoft response -- via Polygon |url=https://it.scribd.com/document/848030901/The-Crew-lawsuit-Ubisoft-response-via-Polygon |url-status=live |access-date=12 Apr 2025 |website=Scribd}}</ref></blockquote>On March 18, 2025 plaintiffs ammended the complain with pictures of the physical copy arguing that the in-box Activation Code for The Crew had an expiration date of 2099. Additionally, the game’s in-game currency could be considered a form of gift certificate. In California, a gift certificate is not allowed to expire.

===GDPR Complaint===
On April 24 2025, noyb (a European non-profit organisation for digital rights) filed a [[GDPR]] complaint to the Austrian data protection authority (DSB) against Ubisoft for forcing its customers to connect to the internet every time a single player game is launched, thereby collecting data on gaming behaviour. This collection of data is alleged to be an infringement of Article 6(1) of the GDPR.

Noyb's official statement:<ref name="gdpr-complaint">Like to play alone? Ubisoft is still watching you! (2025, April 28). noyb.eu. https://noyb.eu/en/play-alone-ubisoft-still-watching-you</ref>
<blockquote>Complaint filed in Austria. noyb has therefore filed a GDPR complaint with the Austrian data protection authority (DSB). We request the DSB to declare that Ubisoft infringed Article 6(1) GDPR with its processing of personal data without a valid legal basis. In addition, we request that Ubisoft deletes all personal information by the complainant that has been processed without a valid legal basis – and that the company ceases further unlawful processing. Last but not least, we suggest that the data protection authority impose an administrative fine. Based on Ubisoft’s turnover of more than € 2 billion, the data protection authority could issue a fine of up to € 92 million.(“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025)</blockquote>

According to noyb there is no valid and legal reason to collect such data "Under Article 6(1) GDPR, there seems to be no valid legal basis to randomly collect such user data" (“Like to Play Alone? Ubisoft Is Still Watching You!,” 2025).<ref name="gdpr-complaint" />

===Switch to subscription model for the game Rocksmith===
{{Main|Rocksmith}}
Rocksmith is a Ubisoft video game that got delisted from every storefront to switch to Rocksmith+, a subscribtion based game.

=== Demand to destroy games in your possession ===
Tech4Gamers recently reported on July 5, 2025<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rehman |first=Obaid Ur |date=2025-07-05 |title="Ubisoft Wants Gamers To Destroy All Copies of A Game Once It Goes Offline" |url=https://tech4gamers.com/ubisoft-eula-destroy-all-copies-game-goes-offline/ |url-status=live |work=Tech4Gamers}}</ref> the Ubisoft EULA has been updated, which states that upon "termination of Your UBISOFT Account" or "UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product" the owner of a game must not only uninstall the product, but you must also "destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession". As gameGPU states; "even physical media"<ref>{{Cite news |last=Games |first=Maximum |date=2025-07-05 |title=Ubisoft requires all copies of the game to be destroyed upon EULA termination |url=https://en.gamegpu.com/game/Ubisoft-requires-all-copies-of-games-to-be-deleted-upon-EULA-termination |url-status=live |work=GameGPU}}</ref>.

UBISOFT EULA<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ubisoft EULA |url=https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250706174816/https://www.ubisoft.com/legal/documents/eula/en-US |archive-date=2025-07-06 |website=Ubisoft}}</ref>:<blockquote>8. TERMINATION.

The EULA is effective from the earlier of the date You purchase, download or use the Product, until terminated according to its terms. You and UBISOFT (or its licensors) may terminate this EULA, at any time, for any reason. Termination by UBISOFT will be effective upon (a) notice to You or (b) termination of Your UBISOFT Account (if any) or (c) at the time of UBISOFT’s decision to discontinue offering and/or supporting the Product. This EULA will terminate automatically if You fail to comply with any of the terms and conditions of this EULA. Upon termination for any reason, You must immediately uninstall the Product and destroy all copies of the Product in Your possession.</blockquote>

==References==
<references />
[[Category:{{PAGENAME}}]]