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Ubisoft’s current US End User Licence Agreement (EULA) says players receive a license to use a game, not ownership of the game’s intellectual property. That contract language is not a court ruling that buyers never own any rights in games: as of October 8, 2026, the dispute over The Crew had no decision on its merits, and a proposed settlement was still awaiting a fairness hearing.
What does Ubisoft’s EULA say buyers receive?
Ubisoft’s current US EULA says the company or its licensors retain title, ownership rights and intellectual-property rights in the product and its copies. Section 2 states: “This License confers no title or ownership in the Product and should not be construed as a sale of any rights in the Product.” In practical terms, Ubisoft describes the player’s right to use the game as a license rather than a transfer of the game’s intellectual property.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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The Crew Motorfest | $27.20 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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The Crew 2 (Xbox One) | $16.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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The Crew 2 (PS4) | $25.97 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
|
The Crew 2 - PlayStation 4 | $24.80 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
The Crew Ultimate Edition - Xbox One Ultimate Edition | $26.45 | Buy on Amazon |
That is Ubisoft’s published contract language. By itself, it does not decide how the terms apply to a particular purchase, whether a particular disclosure was adequate, or whether a consumer-protection law limits the terms. Those questions depend on the transaction, applicable terms and jurisdiction.
What did players allege in The Crew case?
The Crew is the game at the center of the dispute. Two California purchasers filed a federal complaint in November 2024. They described buying physical discs and alleged that they understood they were purchasing the game and expected to be able to play it in the future. Those statements are allegations in the plaintiffs’ filing, not findings by a court.
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- Welcome to Motorfest - the ultimate driving experience! Explore the versatile open game world in O'ahu Island in Hawaii and experience fast races, themed events and more!
- With hundreds of legendary vehicles for your collection you have plenty of opportunity to prove your skills and whizz through the streets of Honolulu
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- Discover the playlists and drive in theme-based promotions that take you to the most fascinating worlds of car culture, such as American muscle cars or Japanese street racing
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The later court-authorized settlement notice describes the central allegation as consumers being led to believe they were paying for ownership rights when they received only a limited license to access the game. It also describes a claim that the server shutdown caused purchased Crew Credits to expire. Ubisoft denies the claims. The state case is identified in the notice as Cassell, et al. v. Ubisoft, Inc., Case No. 25CV014305.
Did a court rule that players do not own their games?
No. The settlement notice says the court had not ruled in favor of either the plaintiffs or Ubisoft. As of October 8, 2026, there was no merits ruling resolving whether the challenged representations or Ubisoft’s conduct violated the law. A proposed settlement is not an admission of liability or a judicial finding about game ownership.
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- Push boundaries and take on new experiences in iconic locations.
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The case concerns The Crew and the claims brought in that litigation. It does not establish a universal rule for every game, disc, digital storefront, publisher or country.
What was offered in the proposed settlement?
The court-authorized notice described a proposed settlement for qualifying US purchasers of The Crew or associated virtual content, including downloadable content, expansions or Crew Credits. It excluded people who got the game free through a trial, game sharing or a subscription reward. Payments depended on final approval and resolution of any appeals.
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Rank #3
- Be the Champion You Want to Be - Join four different motorsports families from around the country: street and pro racers, off-road experts, and freestylers. They'll hook you up with new rides, and they'll introduce you to their own unique motorsports culture and set of disciplines. Through competitions and chance encounters, find and hone your personal style, collect and customize your dream rides, show them off in your HQ, and make your mark on the entire US motorsports scene
| Settlement item | Amount or terms in the 2026 notice |
|---|---|
| Total settlement fund | $2,000,000 |
| Eligible claimant’s choice | $7 cash or $15 Ubisoft-store credit |
| Administration and notice costs | $185,000 set aside |
| Attorneys’ fees | Up to $800,000 |
| Representative awards | $15,000 total, up to $5,000 per representative |
The notice set June 11, 2026, as the claims deadline. That date had passed by October 8, 2026, so a person who had not filed by then could not submit a new claim under the deadline stated in the notice. The notice scheduled the fairness hearing for November 13, 2026, after the date of this article; it therefore did not establish that the settlement had been approved or that payments had been made.
Does buying a physical disc or digital copy mean you own the game?
A disc and a digital entitlement are different things you receive, but neither fact alone answers every legal question about what rights you have. A disc gives you physical media; a digital purchase generally gives you an account-linked entitlement to access software. The applicable EULA and storefront terms, the game’s reliance on servers or online checks, and local consumer law can all matter. In The Crew dispute, plaintiffs said they bought discs, while the complaint and settlement notice address the effect of lost access after the service shutdown.
Rank #4
- Jump in the driver seat of exotic cars, bikes, planes, and boats as you dominate the land, air, and sea
- Go where your heart takes you and travel the USA like never before: with a massive open world and No limits
- Seamlessly Switch between vehicles with the fast fav feature, to go from boat to car to plane to motorcycle, without loading screens
- Team up or Ride solo as you enter the exciting motors ports realms of Street racing, pro-racing, off-roading, and Freestyle
- Stay connected as you compete for Street cred, create exhilarating challenges for others, and share your most memorable moments
- Check the terms for the specific purchase. Ubisoft’s US Terms of Use define “Services” broadly, including games, downloadable content, season passes, online functions, platforms, subscription service, servers and related software.
- Check what continued play depends on. If a game requires a publisher’s server or online authentication, access may depend on services outside the buyer’s control. The details vary by title.
- Separate media from access. A disc can remain in a buyer’s possession even if required online services stop working. Conversely, an account-linked digital entitlement is not the same as possessing a physical copy.
- Consider local consumer protections. Contract wording does not necessarily displace statutory rights that cannot be waived in the buyer’s location.
Ubisoft’s US Terms of Use provide for final and binding arbitration for disputes remaining after the described informal dispute-resolution process. The terms also refer to statutory consumer rights that vary by location, including certain EU remedies when legal conditions are met and Australian statutory consumer guarantees. The effect of any term depends on the relevant jurisdiction and circumstances.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What changed under California law?
California AB 2426 took effect January 1, 2025. A Tom’s Hardware report describes it as requiring clear disclosure in specified transactions when consumers receive a license to access digital goods. The reported purchases and lawsuit in The Crew predated the statute, and the case had produced no ruling on digital ownership as of October 8, 2026. The law is relevant context for later digital-store transactions, not a retroactive resolution of this case.
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- Buckle up for a new supercharged edition of the best-selling action-driving game, The Crew.
- Choose your side in a game of street racers vs. police enforcers in the brand-new The Crew Calling All Units expansion.
- Complete your collection with an all-in-one package that includes The Crew original game, The Crew Wild Run expansion, The Crew Calling All Units expansion, and Season Pass content.
- Stock your garage with more than 120 licensed vehicles, more than 220 missions, and over 220 tuning specs.
- Never drive alone as you join millions of drivers already online and freely roam the US from coast to coast.
What has Ubisoft said about game shutdowns?
PC Gamer reported that Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot addressed the Stop Killing Games campaign at a shareholder meeting. The report quoted him saying services may be discontinued and, “Nothing is eternal,” while describing end-of-life support as a broader issue Ubisoft was working on. Those remarks, as reported, are not a formal legal concession and do not amount to a promise to preserve any particular game.
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