When you hear the phrase “digital asset” in the context of divorce, your mind might immediately jump to cryptocurrencies. However, while crypto is becoming an increasingly central topic in American divorces, this is not the only digital asset spouses need to be aware of. There are also many other assets that only exist in the digital world, and they may be just as valuable as crypto tokens.
Online Subscriptions: A Surprising Source of Conflict Among Divorcing Spouses
Companies of various types are increasingly adopting an “SaaS” business model. In other words, they charge online subscription fees for continued use of the product. The end user doesn’t actually “own” the product or service, and their access terminates as soon as they stop making payments. Putting aside the controversy of this “own nothing and be happy” approach, online subscriptions can cause surprising conflicts among divorcing spouses.
Some online subscriptions are very common in modern American families. The obvious example is a Netflix account. An increasing number of audiophiles are turning to Spotify. Other examples of streaming services include HBO Max and Disney+. While monthly fees are usually quite low, some subscriptions are quite expensive. The Adobe Suite is a prime example, and it might cost hundreds of dollars per year. Some adults might also pay considerable monthly fees for gaming subscriptions, video editing apps, and so on.
Even if each of these subscriptions has a low monthly fee, they may represent thousands of dollars a year when added together. Families often fail to realize the full extent of these subscriptions until they take a closer look at their credit card statements.
Digital Libraries
Spouses might also accumulate considerable “digital libraries” of various products throughout their marriages. While many people now listen to music through streaming platforms, some prefer to purchase digital music files. Over the course of 10 or 20 years, spouses may spend thousands of dollars on albums – creating vast music libraries on iTunes or Bandcamp.
A digital library might also consist of films. Many platforms today allow users to purchase or rent movies. If a couple decides to purchase movies over many decades, they may be left with digital movie libraries worth thousands of dollars.
Finally, many couples today appreciate video games. While purchasing hard copies of video games is still a viable option, the entire industry is moving toward a SaaS and digital economy. As a result, many gamers today decide to download games over the internet without ever setting foot inside a video game store. After a few decades, spouses could theoretically spend thousands on various video games. It is worth mentioning that the average “Triple-A” video game is much more expensive than a music album or movie – especially when newly released.
Who Gets These Digital Assets?
Couples who have physical copies of video games, albums, and movies can divide these assets relatively easily. They might sell the assets and split the proceeds. Alternatively, each couple might receive an equal number of CDs, DVDs, or video games.
Things are much more complicated when these assets are purely in digital form. It is not like you can re-sell a movie you downloaded online at a pawn shop. And what if the digital assets are only associated with one set of login credentials? How can couples continue to share their digital libraries if only one user can access it at a time? These are new issues that may become increasingly problematic for modern couples.
About the author