Quote:
Originally Posted by 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.
|
While I agree with the spirit of your post, I don't agree on the concept that you don't own the content on the CD.
I don't see how digital content on a CD is any different than digital content on a HDD. They both contain digital content on a filesystem. There's not really any significant difference IMO except how the product is distributed (via download or on specially printed discs).
Anyway,
In my mind, owning something includes the rights to do with it, personally, whatever you want. Turn a book into confetti, rip a CD to mp3, loan a book to a friend, hand your collection down to your kids when you die, whatever).
DRM-free is the only only way to get that in the digital-download era. Anything else is just a lease of indeterminate length.