Thread: Second hand ebook store
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Old 12-20-2010, 11:57 AM   #8
Kali Yuga
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Quote:
Originally Posted by wannabee View Post
So has the concept of a second hand ebook store been brought up yet?
It doesn't really work well, because doing so treats a digital good the same as you treat a physical good.

For example, let's say I buy an ebook with DRM. I can use this on multiple devices; I can also back up the file to multiple computers, to my Dropbox account, to CD's that I keep in my apartment or put into a bank vault.

So technically, even if I transfer ownership/license/access/whatever you call it to another person, the only way that can work is with a permanent requirement for a rather stringent DRM.

By the way, I haven't heard of anyone complaining about "selling used iPhone apps." IMO the main reason for complaints here is that we are used to "reselling books" as opposed to "reselling digital content," and we're treating ebooks like paper books.

All that said, I don't think it's completely impossible; for example, Amazon or B&N might eventually do something where they transfer the ebook for a fee. But it doesn't seem likely to me.
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