Like many of you looking at this, I am a gamer. Many may or may not have heard of the “Stop Destroying Videogames” initiative, which aims to protect video games from becoming permanently unplayable after companies stop supporting them. Unfortunately, this campaign is only for European Union citizens. This is why I'm bringing it here to Change.org to bring this initiative to a wider audience.

For millions of gamers worldwide, video games are more than just a pastime; they are an art form, a source of joy, and a means of connection between people across the globe. Yet, the troubling truth is that many of our beloved games are at risk of disappearing forever. When video game companies decide to halt their support, either through shutting down servers, discontinuing sales, or no longer providing patches and updates, these games become essentially unplayable.

Imagine not being able to play a game that holds memories, emotions, and experiences just because it is no longer profitable for a company to maintain it. Games that once brought us joy, taught us valuable lessons, and connected us to friends and strangers alike, suddenly vanishing from our digital libraries. It's a silent erasure of cultural and digital heritage, and we must act now.

There are concrete steps that can be taken to ensure the longevity of these digital treasures. We urge game developers and publishers to:

1. **Establish a digital preservation fund**: Collaborate with organizations dedicated to archiving and preserving digital content, ensuring that executable copies of games are stored safely and accessibly for future generations.

2. **Open source older titles**: Once a game reaches "end-of-life" support from its developer, release its code to the public domain or under an open-source license to enable the community to maintain and improve it.

3. **Fair-use exemptions**: Advocate for and support fair-use exemptions in copyright law that permit the modding, fixing, and patching of games no longer supported by their developers.

By taking these steps, we preserve the rights of gamers everywhere to access and enjoy the games they love. These aren't just games; they are snapshots of our culture, stories, and creative expression.

Join me in urging video game companies, industry leaders, and policymakers worldwide to take decisive action to prevent our virtual worlds from fading into oblivion. Stand with us to protect our rights as gamers and preserve our digital heritage.

Sign this petition and help us keep our beloved games playable for the generations to come.