What happens when you buy a video game, movie, or song online, only for the platform to remove it years later? Senator Luis Donaldo Colosio Riojas is tackling this issue with a new legislative proposal designed to bolster digital consumer rights in Mexico.
Colosio explained that Mexico’s current consumer protection laws were written primarily for physical goods, and updating them is needed as digital commerce expands. A central issue, he pointed out, is that platforms often market products as standard purchases when consumers are actually buying revocable usage licenses.
Colosio Demands Transparency in Digital Sales
Under the proposed reform, platforms would be required to categorize digital purchases into three tiers: full digital ownership, fixed-term license, and indefinite-term license.
This allows buyers to know precisely what they are paying for, how long they will retain access, and what remedies exist if a company decides to delist content or shut down its servers.
Additionally, platforms would be required to provide straightforward channels for filing customer grievances.
What Happens If a Company Deletes a Video Game You Already Purchased?
Colosio explained that a core goal of the initiative is to prevent companies from unilaterally stripping access to content users paid for.
Where applicable, the proposal would require companies to offer tools that keep content accessible offline such as offline gameplay patches when online servers are shut down.
“As President of the Digital Rights Commission, we are working on an initiative to protect consumers in the digital space, provide clarity on what we are truly buying, and ensure technology expands our freedoms rather than restricting our rights,” Colosio shared in a recent Instagram post.
In cases where maintaining access is impossible, the bill calls for compensation or refunds. Colosio emphasized that the intent is not to force companies to maintain active servers indefinitely, but rather to establish clear legal obligations when a service is discontinued.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
Violations of the proposed regulations would carry penalties depending on severity, ranging from monetary fines to potential operational restrictions for severe infractions.
Congresswoman Iraís Reyes noted that proposed fines range from $250,000 to $6,000,000 MXN ($12,000 to $300,000 USD), with increased penalties for repeat offenders.
These measures are part of the legislative proposals and should not be confused with penalties currently in effect.
Colosio Aims to Preserve Video Games, Films, and Music as Cultural Heritage
Colosio also highlighted the cultural impact of digital media, arguing that video games, film, and music form an integral part of modern cultural history and preventing these works from vanishing permanently when platforms retire them is essential to digital preservation.
He added that he remains open to dialogue with software developers, publishers, and distributors to refine the legislation while preserving technological innovation.
The initiative, co-sponsored by Congresswoman Iraís Reyes, marks an important step toward establishing digital consumer rights in a marketplace where products are usually only available for purchase digitally.
