Quote:
Originally Posted by Giggleton
Example:
I buy an ebook, then print out a copy of the book, then destroy the ebook. I then donate the printed book to the library, would that be acceptable to you?
Why or why not?
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If you buy a book, and then photo copy every page -- you could not give the photo copy away without violating copyright. Only the hassle and expense of actually making such a copy keeps the integrity of the physical object and allows such things as "first purchase" (or whatever that's called).
If you could buy an ebook, and the file was impossible to be duplicated (moved, but not duplicated), such that only one copy of the file could ever exist -- and only one person at a time could access that file (no multi-user access) -- then you MIGHT consider such a file "owned" and suitable for "first sale".
Wait....that's what DRM is trying to do. Technology to bind up a digital file to the same or similar features as a physical book.
Of course, DRM schemes all have abundant problems -- but until a digital file can be successfully bound, it can never be treated the same as a physical object.
Lee