VitalSource "Lifetime" false advertising - Revision history

Louis: added website

2026-03-12T18:11:31Z

added website

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:11, 12 March 2026
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	\|Type=Broken Promise, Deception, Ownership		\|Type=Broken Promise, Deception, Ownership
	\|Description=Five-year textbook licenses are misleadingly advertised as "lifetime" licenses.		\|Description=Five-year textbook licenses are misleadingly advertised as "lifetime" licenses.
			\|Website=https://vitalsource.com/
	}}		}}
	[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708171459/https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221 Archived])</ref> - Notice that there is no place that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]		[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708171459/https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221 Archived])</ref> - Notice that there is no place that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]

Bananabot: Added archive URLs for 5 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

2026-02-23T08:05:09Z

Added archive URLs for 5 citation(s) using CRWCitationBot

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:05, 23 February 2026
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	\|Description=Five-year textbook licenses are misleadingly advertised as "lifetime" licenses.		\|Description=Five-year textbook licenses are misleadingly advertised as "lifetime" licenses.
	}}		}}
	[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221</ref> - Notice that there is no place that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]		[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20250708171459/https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221 Archived])</ref> - Notice that there is no place that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]
	[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook CA disclosure.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page [1] that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250126183825/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref> that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 - In the middle of the page it mentions two important points.]]		[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook CA disclosure.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page [1] that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250126183825/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260128182259/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page Archived])</ref> that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 - In the middle of the page it mentions two important points.]]
	'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>		'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page ([http://web.archive.org/web/20260128182259/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page Archived])</ref>

	In addition to VitalSource, eCampus, another company that provides similar services, defines "lifetime" similarly.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Digital Goods Disclosure and Licensing Policy \|url=https://www.ecampus.com/digital-goods-disclosure-policy \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-08-26 \|website=eCampus.com}}</ref>		In addition to VitalSource, eCampus, another company that provides similar services, defines "lifetime" similarly.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Digital Goods Disclosure and Licensing Policy \|url=https://www.ecampus.com/digital-goods-disclosure-policy \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-08-26 \|website=eCampus.com \|archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20251210083327/https://www.ecampus.com/digital-goods-disclosure-policy \|archive-date=10 Dec 2025}}</ref>

	==Background==		==Background==
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	==Regulatory Response==		==Regulatory Response==

	California's AB 2426<ref>https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2426</ref>, effective January 1, 2025, addresses this type of false advertising by requiring companies to:<ref name="ab2426" />		California's AB 2426<ref>https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2426 ([http://web.archive.org/web/20251129062603/https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2426 Archived])</ref>, effective January 1, 2025, addresses this type of false advertising by requiring companies to:<ref name="ab2426" />
	*Explicitly disclose when digital goods are licensed rather than owned		*Explicitly disclose when digital goods are licensed rather than owned
	*Clearly and conspicuously<ref>Bill definition: (1) “Clear and conspicuous” means in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language, such as in larger type than the surrounding text, or in contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks.</ref> communicate access limitations & conditions		*Clearly and conspicuously<ref>Bill definition: (1) “Clear and conspicuous” means in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language, such as in larger type than the surrounding text, or in contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks.</ref> communicate access limitations & conditions

Bythmusters: Added cargo template

2026-01-14T01:14:28Z

Added cargo template

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:14, 14 January 2026
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	~~<!--~~{{~~Incident~~		{{IncidentCargo
	~~\|title=VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy~~		\|Company=VitalSource
	\|~~company~~=VitalSource		\|StartDate=2024-12-18
	\|~~date~~=2024-12-18		\|EndDate=
	\|~~tags~~=~~digital ownership~~, ~~licensing~~, ~~misleading advertising~~		\|Status=Active
	}}~~-->~~[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221</ref> - Notice that there is no place that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]		\|ProductLine=
			\|Product=
			\|ArticleType=Service
			\|Type=Broken Promise, Deception, Ownership
			\|Description=Five-year textbook licenses are misleadingly advertised as "lifetime" licenses.
			}}
			[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221</ref> - Notice that there is no place that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]
	[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook CA disclosure.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page [1] that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250126183825/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref> that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 - In the middle of the page it mentions two important points.]]		[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook CA disclosure.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page [1] that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250126183825/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref> that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 - In the middle of the page it mentions two important points.]]
	'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>		'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>

Wilh3lm: Added info about eCampus doing the same thing

2025-08-26T19:15:24Z

Added info about eCampus doing the same thing

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:15, 26 August 2025
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	}}-->[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221</ref> - Notice that there is no place that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]		}}-->[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221</ref> - Notice that there is no place that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]
	[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook CA disclosure.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page [1] that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250126183825/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref> that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 - In the middle of the page it mentions two important points.]]		[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook CA disclosure.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page [1] that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250126183825/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref> that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 - In the middle of the page it mentions two important points.]]
	'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>		'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>

			In addition to VitalSource, eCampus, another company that provides similar services, defines "lifetime" similarly.<ref>{{Cite web \|title=Digital Goods Disclosure and Licensing Policy \|url=https://www.ecampus.com/digital-goods-disclosure-policy \|url-status=live \|access-date=2025-08-26 \|website=eCampus.com}}</ref>

	==Background==		==Background==

CrookKilla: /* Current Status */ Expand, walk back compliance claim

2025-07-05T23:35:53Z

Current Status: Expand, walk back compliance claim

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:35, 5 July 2025
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	*Products marketed with "lifetime" access remain under licensing restrictions		*Products marketed with "lifetime" access remain under licensing restrictions
	*Access can be revoked or limited based on platform support & device compatibility		*Access can be revoked or limited based on platform support & device compatibility
	*Downloads are contingent on maintaining "supported device" status		*Downloads are contingent on maintaining "supported device" status, a term that they do not clearly define, only indicating it means "the two most recent versions of an operating system" but not identifying on which devices, apps or operating systems downloads of a title are supported.

	==Regulatory Response==		==Regulatory Response==
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	California's AB 2426<ref>https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2426</ref>, effective January 1, 2025, addresses this type of false advertising by requiring companies to:<ref name="ab2426" />		California's AB 2426<ref>https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2426</ref>, effective January 1, 2025, addresses this type of false advertising by requiring companies to:<ref name="ab2426" />
	*Explicitly disclose when digital goods are licensed rather than owned		*Explicitly disclose when digital goods are licensed rather than owned
	*Clearly communicate access limitations & conditions		*Clearly and conspicuously<ref>Bill definition: (1) “Clear and conspicuous” means in a manner that clearly calls attention to the language, such as in larger type than the surrounding text, or in contrasting type, font, or color to the surrounding text of the same size, or set off from the surrounding text of the same size by symbols or other marks.</ref> communicate access limitations & conditions
	*Obtain affirmative acknowledgment from consumers regarding license terms		*Obtain affirmative acknowledgment from consumers regarding license terms

	==Current Status==		==Current Status==

	As of January 2025, VitalSource has updated their disclosure documentation '''but continues to use the term "lifetime" in their marketing, with the 5-year definition disclosed in their terms of service and support documentation'''.<ref name="vitalsource" /> Even though they have complied with the regulation, consumers still must dig further to learn that what is marketed as "lifetime" is anything but.		As of January 2025, VitalSource has updated their disclosure documentation '''but continues to use the term "lifetime" in their marketing, with the 5-year definition disclosed in their terms of service and support documentation'''.<ref name="vitalsource" /> Even though they claim to have complied with the regulation, consumers still must dig further to learn that what is marketed as "lifetime" is anything but. When "180 days" and "1 year" options are chosen, the site clearly and conspicuously displays an ''Expires on: <date, e.g. Jul 5, 2026>'' message on the main webshop page, pushing shoppers to the higher priced "Lifetime" option. When "Lifetime" is selected, that is not replaced with another date (e.g. 5 seconds or 5 years out); instead it is hidden, which is deceptive, the opposite of clear and conspicuous. The "eTextbook License" text is not larger or contrasting, and is marked with only a single ℹ︎ symbol.

	==References==		==References==

154.47.29.11: added space in "noplace" typo

2025-05-09T13:47:15Z

added space in "noplace" typo

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:47, 9 May 2025
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	\|date=2024-12-18		\|date=2024-12-18
	\|tags=digital ownership, licensing, misleading advertising		\|tags=digital ownership, licensing, misleading advertising
	}}-->[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221</ref> - Notice that there is ~~noplace~~ that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]		}}-->[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221</ref> - Notice that there is no place that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]
	[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook CA disclosure.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page [1] that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250126183825/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref> that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 - In the middle of the page it mentions two important points.]]		[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook CA disclosure.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page [1] that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250126183825/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref> that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 - In the middle of the page it mentions two important points.]]
	'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>		'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>

Louis: added pictures with detailed captions so you can see the dark pattern at play

2025-02-19T06:04:51Z

added pictures with detailed captions so you can see the dark pattern at play

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:04, 19 February 2025
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	\|date=2024-12-18		\|date=2024-12-18
	\|tags=digital ownership, licensing, misleading advertising		\|tags=digital ownership, licensing, misleading advertising
	}}-->		}}-->[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 <ref>https://www.vitalsource.com/products/calculus-james-stewart-daniel-k-v9798214339221</ref> - Notice that there is noplace that a user can go to read that the license is not a lifetime license. The only item that links to a disclosure page is a "details" link next to "This is a digital license"]]
			[[File:Vitalsource calculus textbook CA disclosure.png\|alt=Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page [1] that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18\|thumb\|Screenshot of vitalsource' "details" page <ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20250126183825/https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref> that is clickable from the bottom of the product page for a calculus book as of 2025-02-18 - In the middle of the page it mentions two important points.]]
	'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>		'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>

	==Background==		==Background==

Kostas: add categories, comment out template that does not exist.

2025-02-03T23:28:37Z

add categories, comment out template that does not exist.

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:28, 3 February 2025
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	{{Incident		<!--{{Incident
	\|title=VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy		\|title=VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy
	\|company=VitalSource		\|company=VitalSource
	\|date=2024-12-18		\|date=2024-12-18
	\|tags=digital ownership, licensing, misleading advertising		\|tags=digital ownership, licensing, misleading advertising
	}}		}}-->

	'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>		'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>
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	<references />		<references />

	[[Category:Digital ~~Ownership~~]]		[[Category:Incidents]]
	[[Category:License ~~Terms~~]]		[[Category:VitalSource]]
	[[Category:Educational ~~Materials~~]]
			[[Category:Digital ownership]]
			[[Category:License terms]]
			[[Category:Educational materials]]

Louis at 23:37, 31 January 2025

2025-01-31T23:37:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:37, 31 January 2025
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	}}		}}

	'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.		'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.<ref>https://support.vitalsource.com/hc/en-us/articles/28012656781847-CA-Disclosure-Support-Page</ref>

	==Background==		==Background==
Line 36:		Line 36:
	==Regulatory Response==		==Regulatory Response==

	California's AB 2426, effective January 1, 2025, addresses this type of false advertising by requiring companies to:<ref name="ab2426" />		California's AB 2426<ref>https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billStatusClient.xhtml?bill_id=202320240AB2426</ref>, effective January 1, 2025, addresses this type of false advertising by requiring companies to:<ref name="ab2426" />
	*Explicitly disclose when digital goods are licensed rather than owned		*Explicitly disclose when digital goods are licensed rather than owned
	*Clearly communicate access limitations & conditions		*Clearly communicate access limitations & conditions

Louis: Created page with "{{Incident |title=VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy |company=VitalSource |date=2024-12-18 |tags=digital ownership, licensing, misleading advertising }} '''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limite..."

2025-01-31T23:31:29Z

Created page with "{{Incident |title=VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy |company=VitalSource |date=2024-12-18 |tags=digital ownership, licensing, misleading advertising }} '''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limite..."

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{{Incident
|title=VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy
|company=VitalSource
|date=2024-12-18
|tags=digital ownership, licensing, misleading advertising
}}

'''VitalSource "Lifetime" Access Controversy''' is in reference to a practice by VitalSource, a large digital textbook & course material provider for college educational markets in the United States, whereby they market some digital products as having ''"lifetime"'' access; while defining this term as a '''limited 5-year period'''.

==Background==

VitalSource operates as a significant provider of digital educational materials, serving students and educational institutions. The company offers various access durations for their digital products, including what they term "lifetime" access.

==Definition and Implementation==

According to VitalSource's documentation, they define "lifetime" access as follows:<ref name="vitalsource">VitalSource Technologies LLC. (2024, December 18). "CA Disclosure Support Page". VitalSource Support. Retrieved January 31, 2025.</ref>
*Five years of online platform access
*Ability to download content to supported devices during this period
*Support limited to device compatibility at time of download

This definition appears in their California Digital Goods Disclosure documentation, published December 18, 2024, in response to AB 2426 compliance requirements with the new law.<ref name="ab2426">California State Legislature. (2024). AB 2426 Consumer protection: false advertising: digital goods. Retrieved January 31, 2025.</ref>

==Overarching problem==

This practice is a perfect demonstrator of the key issue in modern digital goods ownership:

===Redefining Common Terms===
*The term "lifetime" is commonly understood to mean the entire life of either the purchaser or the product
*VitalSource's use of the term to mean a fixed 5-year period is a departure from traditional consumer understanding of the word [https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lifetime lifetime]

===License vs. Ownership===
*Products marketed with "lifetime" access remain under licensing restrictions
*Access can be revoked or limited based on platform support & device compatibility
*Downloads are contingent on maintaining "supported device" status

==Regulatory Response==

California's AB 2426, effective January 1, 2025, addresses this type of false advertising by requiring companies to:<ref name="ab2426" />
*Explicitly disclose when digital goods are licensed rather than owned
*Clearly communicate access limitations & conditions
*Obtain affirmative acknowledgment from consumers regarding license terms

==Current Status==

As of January 2025, VitalSource has updated their disclosure documentation '''but continues to use the term "lifetime" in their marketing, with the 5-year definition disclosed in their terms of service and support documentation'''.<ref name="vitalsource" /> Even though they have complied with the regulation, consumers still must dig further to learn that what is marketed as "lifetime" is anything but.

==References==
<references />

[[Category:Digital Ownership]]
[[Category:License Terms]]
[[Category:Educational Materials]]