In a story first picked up by, then subsequently followed up on by Engadget, the site has highlighted the fact that the next time you’re about to buy a game on Valve’s digital storefront, you’re not technically purchasing at all.

Valve's digital games storefront now reminds users that they don't actually own the software that they purchase, but only a license to access the software.

Steam appears to have started posting a notice in its shopping cart that purchases on its storefront are only for a license and not a game, according to a notice spotted by Engadget. It looks like an attempt by the company to get ahead of a new California law coming next year that forces companies to admit that buyers don't actually own digital content.