On: Valve says Steam users don't own a thing, GOG says...

[chii]

> If I buy a book at the bookstore, I own the [physical] book

what you're talking about is not ownership, but the first sale doctrine (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine).

Unfortunately, this old doctrine doesnt work in the digital realm. So consumers _lost_ some of their rights in this regard.

[jasomill → chii]

Depends on the jurisdiction. The EU, for example, claims otherwise (not that this makes much practical difference until all appeals are exhausted):

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First-sale_doctrine#Applicatio...