[Katsunami]

The entire problem is that digital-only content does not come wrapped in a physical package.

Let's say, I buy a CD. Then I own the CD, but I don't own the (digital) content that is on the CD. If I wish to sell the CD, I *have* to sell the content; if I wish to sell the content, then I *have* to sell the CD. It's the same with a paper book. Yes, you own the book, but not the content. If you'd own the content, you could do whatever you like with it, such as copy and change it and then sell copies again as often as you like.

If you purchase the same content, but as a set of FLAC files, then you have only the content; you don't have the CD anymore. Therefore, it becomes impossible to resell: it can never, ever be checked if the seller did not stash a copy somewhere else. Even if there's DRM on the original files, it may have been removed. Same with an ebook.

Yes, it would be possible to rip the CD and then sell it, but it would be the same as selling the FLAC files while stashing away your own copy. You could do the same with a paper book. (For the sake of argument, I assume that there are OCR-scanners that can "rip" a book like a CD-drive can rip a CD, and that this doesn't cost you have a year to create your ebook.)

This is the reason why console manufacturers are trying to make consoles only play games that are registered to that console's account. Ideally, they'd like to sell (license) you the game without you ever getting a CD/DVD-copy in your hands, and they'd like that you can only play it while the console is connected to the internet.

Same with movies and music. They tried with music already: it failed. They're trying with games now, and it's failing. This setup is getting a huge backlash. Sony says it's going to try this with 4K content (implementing a permanent online check for each movie released by Sony or played on a Sony 4K device, and connecting a movie to a device on first play); it's doomed to fail. People are already railing against it.

I've said it many times, and I'll say it again. The only thing that works, is what GOG.com is doing. Sell cheap. Sell complete. (With soundtracks and all.) Sell without hassle. Make buying easy. So cheap, so complete, and so easy that even trying to pirate the stuff is not going to be worthwhile.

WHY would I try to pirate a game, when I can get it at GOG.com for $5, complete with maps, soundtracks, up-to-date installer (with all patches and expansions integrated, and for older games, fixed to run on modern operating systems, or having an emulator built right into the installer, which is used completely automatically and transparant, without you even knowing it's there), no CD-checks, no DRM, the possibility to install it on as many computers as I want, as long as I own them, have a support crew and forum in case of problems or questions or just wanting to banter about the game... $5 is worth al that. **** piracy, with chance to catch virusses, malware, incomplete games, no-working cracks that make the game crash, no soundtracks....