This is encouraging news. A huge blow to fair use and access to media is being struck as we move to electronic formats for music, movies, and books. Libraries, rental services, used bookstores, and more depend on this concept to allow greater and fairer access to media. How we transition this concept into the world of digital media will greatly effect the extent to which we can fulfill the promise of computers and the Internet to make life better.
The First Sale Doctrine may be difficult to apply in a world of digital media, but it is not more difficult to apply than Copyright itself. Establishing a legal right to resell digital goods is a necessary counterbalance to the evergrowing power of Copyright owners over how we use our computers.
The First Sale Doctrine may be difficult to apply in a world of digital media, but it is not more difficult to apply than Copyright itself. Establishing a legal right to resell digital goods is a necessary counterbalance to the evergrowing power of Copyright owners over how we use our computers.