Soo... does that mean other platforms also expire when they can't be bothered to support a game? For example, a playstation version? What about guitar hero?
(Why would the servers be required anyways? To stream content? Couldn't content be downloaded on first run (which means you only need to fund a server&pipe big enough for new purchases))
There been instances where games re-released on new platforms have been modified because the creators were unable or unwilling to re-license certain content again. One example that comes to mind is Sega removing songs from The Offspring from Crazy Taxi when they released a version of the game for Xbox Live Arcade. The original arcade version also featured real branded destinations, like KFC, and these have been turned into generic versions.
> Soo... does that mean other platforms also expire when they can't be bothered to support a game? For example, a playstation version?
What? Are you being intentionally ridiculous. They license songs. I don't know the terms of these specific licenses but the way they work in general is that they can license the game for a specific use and/or term. I'm not a lawyer so I don't know specific legal terms off the top of my head but there's a different license for the PlayStation version of the game where they are giving the user a copy of the song to have and to hold and one where they would stream, which I assume the iOS version is actually doing. Again, not a lawyer so I don't know the specifics but you will often see something like a TV show having broadcast rights to use a song in their show but they (especially for older shows) may have failed to procure the appropriate rights to use the song on the DVD version.
Now, I don't know too much about the Rock Band app so I'm sure someone more knowledgeable about it is likely to come through and correct me but it sounds like the songs are streamed for the iPhone. This wouldn't be as crazy as it sounds since phones still have relatively limited space and applications with smaller footprints are thus easier to manage.
3.3.16 Any master recordings and musical compositions embodied in Your Application must be wholly-owned by You or licensed to You on a fully paid-up basis and in a manner that will not require the payment of any fees, royalties and/or sums by Apple to You or any third party. In addition, if Your Application will be distributed outside of the United States, any master recordings and musical compositions embodied in Your Application (a) must not fall within the repertoire of any mechanical or performing/communication rights collecting or licensing organization now or in the future and (b) if licensed, must be exclusively licensed to You for Your Application by each applicable copyright owner.
I'm not. I couldn't see anywhere on the app description or in the lengthy custom EULA they attached that notifies the user that they are actually buying a subscription or leasing the songs (or that the app is allowed to expire, for that matter).
When you buy Guitar Hero or Rock Band on the playstation, the disc is yours to keep and play forever (I assume). I'd expect the same from an iOS app.
(Why would the servers be required anyways? To stream content? Couldn't content be downloaded on first run (which means you only need to fund a server&pipe big enough for new purchases))