Quote:
Originally Posted by BWinmill
I agree that the inherent ability of computers to copy data, even during normal operations when a third-party (human) is not involved is inconsistent with copyright law.
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Maybe if we take each word in the copyright law literally and even then I am not so sure. In most situations you are allowed to make personal copies, e.g. as a backup*. The copies created by a computer can fall into that category.
As far as I know, copyright law more or less says that you have the
right to lend, gift or sell a copyrighted work after you have bought it, but you cannot do that with copies of that work. It seems to me that a license term that limits your rights should be unenforcable. At least in Europe, there have been some cases where courts have determined that reselling a software license is legal, perhaps ebooks are to follow.
* I checked about this online and was surprised to find that, in the US at least, it appears you are not allowed to make backup copies of music or films you have legally downloaded:
http://www.copyright.gov/help/faq/faq-digital.html