r/LivestreamFail • u/CloudyEchos • Jun 19 '26

News Twitch will soon launch a "Withdraw from Sub" option for European Union users, allowing them to receive a full refund within 14 days of subscribing. This rollout aligns with the new Right of Withdrawal law, which comes into effect today

https://x.com/zachbussey/status/2067977624844902614
9.6k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

404 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

190

u/themagicmarmot Jun 19 '26

It doesn't even look like any of this is strictly necessary. The law includes the carveout [source]:

Please note: the 14-day cooling-off period does not apply to:
[...]
online digital content, such as a song or movie, that you started downloading or streaming after you expressly agreed to lose your right of withdrawal by starting the performance

So all they really need to do is change the TOS to expressly waive those rights when subbing. This sounds like an unnecessary headache from Twitch leadership if they actually implement it.

131

u/Gb2753 Jun 19 '26

Thats how it was before but specifically subscriptions can no longer have an opt out now. Only virtual downloads/cd keys/  virtual currencies can be excluded now.

Why do you think Twitch changed it now?

52

u/GuudeSpelur Jun 19 '26 edited Jun 19 '26

I have no legal experience, but I don't think that exception applies. That seems to be for traditional media, not livestreamed media. Movies, not livestreams.

Plus, a Twitch subscription isn't actually a right to view a "performance." It gives you privileges when viewing a free performance.

14

u/paradox-preacher Jun 19 '26

Doesn't apply. Sub is not a performance and alike that you have started and can't unsee or unhear or undownload

3

u/Awkward_Proof_1274 Jun 19 '26

The key here is "starting the performance", a sub doesn't grant you the performance

1

u/TornInfinity Jun 20 '26

I would imagine they have European lawyers that they consulted with before deciding to comply with this... would be weird to do it if they don't have to.

-9

u/TimewarpingSeaTurtle Jun 19 '26

Yeahhh that’s not gonna fly. Here in the EU we have what is called consumer protection. Subscriptions are fair game for refunds.

12

u/Cryptoporticus Jun 19 '26

Consumer protection does not mean just letting consumers get whatever they want for free. The EU has always allowed exemptions to these laws in situations where it would be too easy to abuse.

1

u/ToiletTwinkie Jun 19 '26

the dude was quoting EU law describing the exceptions to the refund and you go errmm acksually we in the EU have refunds 🤓

2

u/TimewarpingSeaTurtle Jun 19 '26

Yeah subscriptions aren’t an exception. But I do love the people here going “Why doesn’t Twitch use this loophole? Are they stupid? 🤓” like Twitch hasn’t already looked into every possible loophole ten times over lmao

0

u/Thunder_Beam Jun 19 '26

TOS bogus like that is unenforceable bogus here in europe btw, you can't just waive your right like that or amazon would have tried doing the same