Understanding the New California Digital Goods Disclosure Law
Effective Date: Wednesday, January 1, 2025
To comply with the new disclosure law, AB-2426 Consumer protection: false advertising: digital goods, we want to provide clear, transparent information about digital goods purchases and licenses. Below is a breakdown of key aspects of our policies and practices under the new regulation and applies to all digital course material purchases from VitalSource and its affiliates, including Akademos (TextbookX) (collectively referred to as “VitalSource”).
Licensing Disclosure
You are licensing a digital product for a set duration. Durations are set forth in the product description, with "Lifetime" typically meaning five (5) years of online access and permanent download to a supported device. All licenses are non-transferrable.
When you purchase a digital product, you are licensing it for a set duration, as specified in the product description:
- License Duration: The duration of the license is clearly stated in the product description. Products labeled as “Lifetime” typically mean five (5) years of online access and permanent downloads to a supported device.
- License Characteristics: All licenses are non-transferable, meaning they cannot be shared or assigned to another individual. The purchase grants you specific access rights as described in the product details, but ownership of the underlying content remains with the publisher or creator.
Lifetime Licenses
A "Lifetime" license includes the following:
- Online Access: You will have access to the product on our platform for typically five (5) years.
- Downloads: You may permanently download the product to a supported device.
- Support and Maintenance: Support for downloaded files is tied to compatibility with VitalSource supported devices and platforms at the time of download.
How Licenses Work in Our System:
When you make a purchase or when a purchase is made on your behalf and you redeem the purchased access code, the system associates your account with a digital license. This license grants access to the product and outlines the terms, including duration and permissions, ensuring seamless integration with your account and supported devices.
Downloads
When purchasing a digital product, you can download it for use on a supported device (the two most recent versions of an operating system). Downloads will function so long as VitalSource supports the device. This means that if a device or operating system loses compatibility with VitalSource products due to updates or obsolescence, your downloaded product may no longer work as intended.
Access Codes
For products classified as Access Codes, including bundles with eBooks and Access Codes, additional details apply:
- Third-Party Provision: These products are provided by a third party. All information about these products, including duration, licensing terms, and technical requirements, can be found on the respective provider's website.
- Access and Support: While we facilitate your purchase, ongoing access and support are managed by the access code provider.
Questions
If you have any questions or need assistance, please reach out to our Customer Support team via Chat or Email
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