If you live in the US or Canada and have a dispute with Steam, you cannot sue Valve in regular court or join a class action lawsuit — you must use private arbitration instead. This means you resolve disputes alone, without the benefit of group legal action.
This analysis describes what Steam's agreement states, permits, or reserves. It does not constitute a legal determination about enforceability. Regulatory applicability and practical outcomes may vary by jurisdiction, enforcement context, and individual circumstances. Read our methodology
The arbitration requirement replaces court litigation with an arbitral process where an arbitrator (rather than judge or jury) resolves disputes and issues binding decisions with limited appellate review. The class action waiver restricts the procedural mechanisms available for dispute resolution by prohibiting aggregated claims, collective proceedings, or representative actions.
The updated agreement no longer explicitly discloses that Steam Wallet funds held by Japanese users will expire six months after being added, or that expiration dates can be reviewed in the Steam Wallet. The removal of this disclosure eliminates the transparency mechanism previously available to Japanese subscribers regarding fund expiration timelines and monitoring options. Japanese law may still impose expiration requirements on stored funds regardless of contractual disclosure, but the agreement no longer notifies users of this expiration mechanism.
View change record →US and Canadian users cannot take Valve to court or participate in class action lawsuits, forcing individual arbitration that is typically more expensive and less accessible for consumers with small claims against a large corporation.
How other platforms handle this
You and Teachable agree to resolve any disputes through final and binding arbitration, except as set forth under Exceptions to Agreement to Arbitrate below. You also agree that disputes will only be resolved on an individual basis and not as a class, consolidated, or representative action.
Any dispute arising from or relating to the subject matter of these Terms shall be finally settled by arbitration in San Francisco County, California, in accordance with the Streamlined Arbitration Rules and Procedures of Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. ("JAMS") then in effect, by ...
THESE TERMS REQUIRE THE USE OF ARBITRATION (SECTION 12.2) ON AN INDIVIDUAL BASIS TO RESOLVE DISPUTES, RATHER THAN JURY TRIALS OR CLASS ACTIONS, AND ALSO LIMIT THE REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO YOU IN THE EVENT OF A DISPUTE.
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"DISPUTES. If you are a resident of the United States or Canada, you and Valve agree that any claim or dispute that has arisen or may arise between you and Valve relating to your use of Steam, including, but not limited to, any applicable Subscription Terms and Rules of Use, must be resolved exclusively through final and binding arbitration, rather than in court, except that you may assert claims in small claims court, if your claims qualify. There is no judge or jury in arbitration, and court review of an arbitration award is limited. The arbitrator, however, can award on an individual basis the same damages and relief as a court (including injunctive and declaratory relief or statutory damages), and must follow this Agreement as a court would. CLASS ACTION WAIVER. You and Valve agree that any proceedings to resolve or litigate any dispute whether through a court of law or arbitration shall be solely conducted on an individual basis. You agree that you will not seek to have any dispute heard as a class action, representative action, collective action, or private attorney general action.— Excerpt from Steam's Steam Subscriber Agreement
REGULATORY FRAMEWORK: This provision implicates the Federal Arbitration Act (FAA) 9 U.S.C. §§1-16 (which governs enforceability); FTC Act Section 5 (15 U.S.C. §45) regarding unfair or deceptive practices where arbitration clauses are used to systematically insulate companies from aggregate liability; California Civil Code §1751 and Discover Bank rule (as modified by AT&T Mobility v. Concepcion, 563 U.S. 333 (2011)); and for Canadian users, the Consumer Protection Act 2002 (Ontario) and analogous provincial statutes. Primary enforcement authority is the FTC for unfair practice aspects; courts for enforceability challenges.
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Coinbase's User Agreement includes a mandatory arbitration clause that most users may not have reviewed. Here is what the clause states and how the opt-out process works.
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The arbitration requirement replaces court litigation with an arbitral process where an arbitrator (rather than judge or jury) resolves disputes and issues binding decisions with limited appellate review. The class action waiver restricts the procedural mechanisms available for dispute resolution by prohibiting aggregated claims, collective proceedings, or representative actions.
US and Canadian users cannot take Valve to court or participate in class action lawsuits, forcing individual arbitration that is typically more expensive and less accessible for consumers with small claims against a large corporation.
ConductAtlas has identified this type of provision across 11 platforms. See the full comparison.
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