Quote:
Originally Posted by HarryT
I think we have to consider two separate issues here:
1. As you say, incidental copies created during normal use are clearly permitted by copyright law since, practically speaking, you can't really do anything with a digital file that doesn't involve copies being made - not even reading it.
2. The issue of what, if anything, you are obliged to do with your own copy when you give the book to someone else. Is merely refraining from reading your own copy sufficient? I'd guess it probably isn't - copyright is about "possession, not "usage". Is making a reasonable endeavor to delete copies from your reading device and PC sufficient? I would hope that it is, but until this is tested in court, we really don't know the answer, do we?
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Yep. Number 2 is the rub, and copyright law with have to be changed/clarified to deal with these types of issues that pop up with digital content that weren't possible with print content. Fair Use laws need a great deal of specification as they're too vague even with print, and woefully inadequate for defining what one can or can't do with digital content they bought.