The fact that we don't "own" digitally purchased content is a familiar topic,
but a recent
post on ResetEra brings up another interesting question about rights to
digital goods. A Steam user asked Valve about transferring ownership of a Steam
account in one's will. The answer (for now at least) is that you will not be
allowed to pass along your game library for your descendants to finally clear up
all those Steam Sale purchases. That tracks with the fact that Steam accounts
and games likewise cannot be legally sold to another party. This is not to say
anyone would know if you left your heirs your login details, but there is no way
to officially transfer ownership of an account or games. There are a couple of
possible loopholes still to be explored, and
Ars Technica notes them, saying it's requested comment from Valve, so we may
hear more about this. For now, here's the explanation of Valve's policy on
bequeathing Steam accounts:
Unfortunately, Steam accounts and games are
non-transferable. Steam can't provide someone else with access to the account or
merge its contents with another account.
I regret to inform you that your Steam account cannot be transferred via a
will.