Quote:
Originally Posted by jswinden
It won't happen IMO. Haven't you ever decided you wanted to transfer a software title from an old computer to a new one? You can do it, but it requires phoning the company and spending at least 15 minutes on the phone with a CS rep while s/he deactivates your old computer and activates the new one. I'm sure this could be handled without CS if the companies so desired, but they rarely so desire. Currently they don't have to track a digital file once you download it. But to authorize an activation scheme means they would have to keep track of all the digital files for years. They won't be doing that as it would cost too much.
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There is already support for owning a book on multiple computers, and deactivating a book that is a library loan. The whole thing is already automated.
You hold access to the book for as long as your account details say you should, and it phones home every time you have internet access.
If it were handled exactly the same as the CURRENT library loan mechanism, then I think we are already there. We just need the law to catch up with our right to the First Sale Doctrine.
Although I totally agree the companies don't want this at all -- they LIKE it when we have to repay for the same old product, it makes them more money. Litigation will be required.