Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
With a paper book you own the physical material on which the book is printed. An ebook has no physical component. What precisely is it that you believe that you own?
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How about the ability to read it whenever I want? With a paper book, as long as I keep the physical copy in good shape, I can read it. I can keep the bits of the ebook in good shape, too, but when the license is revoked, I lose the right to read it. The latter is not the same as the former. The ability to read the book is no longer just about how long I'm willing to preserve the physical manifestation of what I bought. Of course, that's as intended, and you'll say that when you buy a license, that's what you should expect. But the point is that people are not used to buying a license for a book, and the publishers and vendors aren't trying very hard to make the distinction clear.