BreOl72: Yes, it's a little clearer now.
In connection with your other posts: you think GOG may come in hot water, if they restrict new accounts the right
(or privilege?) to create threads and/or post in those created by others, correct?
Yes, that's why I wrote that:
"Either it's an open / public forum or a closed one.
In case GOG change that to be more exclusive to the paid owners -
their Agreement rules - then yes, a very good solution. Still not the best."
BreOl72: I honestly don't think the "EU discrimination paragraph" would apply in this case, though.
EU was made as an example of the most harsh institute where it comes to human rights. Whether or not it applies I can't be certain. I would expect that a GOG's lawyer would request to change the text in User's Agreement for certain.
BreOl72: Because
you are not hindered to purchase games,
read the threads,
read the reviews, etc.
Fact: to read what's in the forums, you don't even need an account. Reading is "free for all". Very good examples with everything of the above, yet unrelated to the only case which was presented should such a limitation arise.
BreOl72: Writing on the forum, on the other hand, could easily be considered a "privilege". And privileges have to be earned. E.G.: by purchasing something first.
A privilege you say? Yes it might be, let's check what it is shall we:
A privilege in a user's agreement typically refers to a specific right or benefit that is granted to the user by the company or organization that owns the product or service covered by the agreement. Examples of privileges that may be included in a user's agreement could include access to certain features or content, priority customer support, or early access to new products or services. These privileges are usually contingent upon the user agreeing to abide by certain terms and conditions set forth in the agreement, such as restrictions on how the product or service can be used or prohibitions against sharing login information with others. It's important to note that privileges granted in a user's agreement are not necessarily legal rights and may be subject to change or revocation by the company or organization at any time. Therefore, it's important for users to read and understand the agreement before agreeing to its terms. So yes, it could with one little requirement: the User's Agrement should be adjusted accordingly.
BreOl72: Here's another example of "
writing something on a store's digital premises":
reviews.
There are many shops where you can review the articles you have bought in that shop online...yet, you can't review stuff that you didn't buy in that store.
The option for me to write a review about "article X" is only given, after I purchase "article X" - on that store.
Is that discrimination?
Because I definitely can have an opinion about "article X", even if I didn't buy it
(neither in store Y nor at all), right?
And I have bought other articles in the past, so I am a registered customer.
Well, apparently that's not discrimination.
Else, the EU would act and forbid these "
store-purchase-bound" review sections.
I don't know, are you talking about Steam and other stores? In GOG we might post a review for a non-existed games in our libraries. Are others stores possibly at risk of discrimination their users? They might.
How is it related to current case? It's not BUT I see your point here. Since no one cared about limitation of users with no game to write a review why should GOG care about limiting one group of users with creating a new thread or more than 1 or 3 threads per day? The risks are probably low, but this doesn't mean they are not there.
BreOl72: To end this here:
the worst that could happen, is that GOG has to expand its User Agreement with a simple sentence:
"Any active participation in the forums (creating threads, writing comments) requires at least a single purchase in the GOG store:" With that, they would be on the legally save side.
They could even add a "minimum purchase value" and would still be well within the law.
Yes, thank you. I have the feeling that I somehow repeating myself over and over. I mentioned that User's Agreement should be adjusted in that case.
You wrote it's the case for the worst case scenario. Fine by me. Worst case or not, I merely stated the risks and the possible solution in my previous posts as well.
DoomSooth: Stop coming to GOG if the messageboards are removed? Must not care too much about DRM-free games, then. Doesn't make much sense to be here at all, if you don't care about the games.
In my case I stop worrying about such thing as "GOG DRM-free games" the moment I was banned from purchasing them EVEN if I can get a working credit card from a friend based on my IP address location. Guilty as charged, you are free to condemn me.