Originally Posted by Gaile Gray
I just spoke with Jeff Strain, and he said that there are all sorts of restrictions on selling a product in advance of the ability to use it. Once the game goes live, it's possible for us to do so, but we cannot, for instance, store your credit card information from your purchase of the Prerelease Bonus Pack and then charge you a month later when the game is released. It sounds like such a good idea, but it's not practical in a business sense.
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Remember that you are not selling a product, you are selling a right to use a service. According to the EULA I do not own anything when I buy the game (unless you count the box, manual, the CD (not the software on it), and anything else inside the box). If I buy it from the in-game store I literally get nothing that anyone could say I own. If I do not own anything then where is this "product" you speak off?
I only have the right to play the game. A right to use the service.
If I am wrong here please someone explain it to me where the "product" is.
Sure I don't know all the laws and what not but there has to be a way you can do it since it happens everyday.
Here is an excellent example:
I can buy a plane ticket right now for a trip a month from now.
I WILL be charged RIGHT NOW the full amount of the ticket. In many cases you may have to buy the NON-REFUNDABLE ticket before you even get to see the times of your flights.
Can I use the ticket right now? NO
Can I change the ticket? maybe for a charge if it is allowed wherever you bought it from.
Can I get a refund for the ticket if i decide not to use it? Not from most places.
Do I own anything? Sure a piece of paper with some printing on it and only if I needed to print it out.
I payed NOW for a SERVICE that I can not use until later.
I see no difference.
Honestly I think it is awesome that some stores already have it available early regardless of the legal side of things. Too bad your legal department is too busy rewritting the EULA twice in the past week to figure out how this is possible.