The Consumer Rights Act 2015 was one of the first laws in the world to give
digital content its own set of consumer rights. Whether it’s an app, a
download, a game, an e-book or a stream, it must be of
satisfactory quality,
fit for any particular purpose you made known, and
as described. These rights cover paid-for content, and free
content that comes with something you paid for.
Your remedies
If digital content is faulty, you’re entitled to a
repair or replacement — a fix, patch or re-supply — and,
where that isn’t possible or isn’t done properly, a
price reduction or a refund. There’s also a
distinctive extra protection: if faulty digital content
damages your device or other content you own, and the trader
didn’t use reasonable care and skill, you can require them to repair the
damage or compensate you.
A worked example
You buy and download a game that corrupts other files on your console. The
game should have been of satisfactory quality — and because it damaged content
you owned, you may be entitled to have that damage put right or be
compensated, on top of a remedy for the game itself.
Common questions
Does this cover free apps?
Free content is covered where it comes with goods, services or content you
paid for — and the device-damage remedy can apply to free content too.
Is a streaming subscription “goods” or “digital content”?
Streamed and downloaded content is treated as digital content, with the
quality rights above.
What to do next
Report the fault to the seller or platform and ask for a repair, replacement
or refund. If they refuse, see Legal claims and
check the provider in our Complaints Directory.
Sources
Consumer Rights Act 2015, ss. 34–36 (quality rights), 42–46 (remedies, incl.
damage to a device) — legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2015/15. Reviewed: 3 September
2026.