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US Rep proposes bill to give video game buyers "ownership," not "a…

The proposed bill would make a digital game purchase count as real ownership, though Ars Technica reports technical and legislative hurdles remain; your library is still a rental today.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on The Five O'Clock
Published 4:53 PM ET, Friday, October 16, 2026

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from The Five O'Clock at 4:53 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Ars Technica's, the jokes are ours.

At a glance

First reported by Ars Technica: “US Rep proposes bill to give video game buyers "ownership," not "a license"”.
Covered on BBN on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 4:53 PM ET on The Five O'Clock, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield.
Topics: Rep, US.
BBN covered this story before: US Rep. Krishnamoorthi and family were at Aurora temple during… (October 15).

The real story

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Ars TechnicaUS Rep proposes bill to give video game buyers "ownership," not "a license"

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentA US congressman has proposed a bill that would make buying a digital video game mean you own it, instead of holding a license the company can pull back.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentBro, I'd finally own my games. Eleven years of sixty-dollar purchases and I've basically been renting a very long trailer.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentArs Technica says the hurdles are big, both technical and legislative. A bill is a proposal, Kenji, and your library is still a license today.

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